📖 Meaning
A metaphor for things disappearing completely without a trace. It likens the total vanishing of wealth, power, or worldly glory to smoke dispersing and ashes being extinguished. Often used to lament the impermanence of worldly things.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the preface to Yuan dynasty scholar Liu Qi's work 'Gui Qian Zhi' (《归潜志》). In the preface, Liu Qi reflects that over twenty years he had witnessed many powerful and wealthy individuals whose splendor once blazed like fire, yet after suffering chaos and upheaval, they all vanished like smoke and ash without remainder. The phrase expresses his sorrow over the impermanence of glory amid war and calamity.
💡 Example Usage
历经战火洗礼，曾经辉煌的古城如今烟销灰灭。
After enduring the ravages of war, the once-glorious ancient city has vanished like smoke and ash.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 烟销灰灭
- Pinyin: yān xiāo huī miè
- Literal Translation: smoke, dissipate, ash, extinguish
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4