impermanent

IPA/ɪmˈpɜːmənənt/
IPA/ɪmˈpɜːrmənənt/

impermanent — adjective

  • impermanentpositive
  • more impermanentcomparative
  • most impermanentsuperlative

1. likely to change, disappear, or stop existing after a short period of time; not

1.形容詞C1
釋義

likely to change, disappear, or stop existing after a short period of time; not designed to last or remain unchanged indefinitely — for example, a temporary job, a brief moment of happiness, or the beauty of a flower that fades quickly.

例句

Talia knew her resort job was impermanent, so she saved money for winter.

predicative use: be + impermanent

Hari reminded himself that all possessions are impermanent and focused on building lasting memories instead.

collocation: impermanent possessions

同義詞
  • temporary

    suggests a fixed, limited duration (e.g. a temporary job); less philosophical than impermanent

  • transient

    more formal; emphasises briefness and the idea of passing through (e.g. transient beauty)

  • fleeting

    suggests something that vanishes almost instantly (e.g. a fleeting glance)

反義詞
  • permanent

    lasting or intended to last indefinitely

  • lasting

    continuing for a long time without significant change

用法筆記

More formal than 'temporary' or 'short-lived'. Common in philosophical, spiritual, or reflective writing — especially discussions about the impermanent nature of life, beauty, or material things. 'Temporary' often implies a known end date; 'impermanent' emphasises the natural, unavoidable transience of something.

常見錯誤

❌The library is closed for an impermanent period.
✅The library is closed for a temporary period.
💡For a fixed, limited duration with a known end, use 'temporary' or 'short-term', not 'impermanent'.
❌The weather is very impermanent today.
✅The weather is very changeable today.
💡'Impermanent' is not used for everyday changes; use 'changeable' or 'unpredictable' instead.