4 characters Idiom and proverb 27 779

Our free Chinese learning series introduces idioms and proverbs. These timeless phrases hold valuable meanings and are worth studying. Today’s idiom is 「優曇一現」, detailed below.

The idiom 「優曇一現」 we’re featuring is explained below, showcasing its meaning and usage.

The Udumbara flower has twelve petals like a lotus, which open and then close. It is a metaphor that things or scenes appear and disappear quickly and are rarely seen.

The Mandarin pronunciation of this idiom is :

yōu tán yī xiàn

while its Cantonese pinyin is :

yau1 taam4 yat1 yin6

Chinese idioms come in large numbers, with diverse meanings and usages, offering endless learning opportunities. We hope these resources make it easier for you to study Chinese.