飞鸿雪爪 — “Flying goose's claws in the snow”
飞鸿雪爪 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Traces or marks left by past events or experiences, likened to the fleeting imprints of a flying goose's claws on snow; something that leaves a momentary but distinct impression”. Literally, “flying goose's claws in the snow”.
飞鸿雪爪 Pronunciation and Pinyin
飞鸿雪爪 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 飞鸿雪爪
Origin and Story of 飞鸿雪爪
The idiom "Fei Hong Xue Zhua" (飞鸿雪爪), meaning "flying goose's claws in the snow," originates from a story involving the renowned Song Dynasty brothers, Su Shi and Su Zhe.
During their travels, the brothers once stayed in a temple in Mianchi and developed a good relationship with the temple's old monk. They left poems inscribed on the temple walls.
Years later, Su Shi revisited the place and wrote a poem titled "Harmonizing with Ziyou's Reminiscence of Mianchi," reflecting deeply on life's transient nature.
In his poem, he wrote, "What is life like, wherever one goes? It should be like a flying goose treading on snow. Occasionally, footprints are left on the mud, but how can the goose flying away be accounted for east or west?"
This passage beautifully illustrates the idea of fleeting experiences leaving behind momentary traces, which soon vanish as life moves on.
Idioms Related to 飞鸿雪爪
Synonyms of 飞鸿雪爪
More idioms starting with 飞
- fēi飞shū书zǒu走xí檄swiftly write and dispatch documents
- fēi飞yún云chè掣diàn电extremely swift like flying clouds and flashing lightning
- fēi飞chú刍wǎn挽lì粒swiftly transport provisions
- fēi飞chú刍wǎn挽sù粟rapidly transport provisions
- fēi飞chú刍wǎn挽liáng粮rapidly transport provisions
- fēi飞chú刍zhuǎn转xiǎng饷rapidly transport provisions
- fēi飞shēng升téng腾shí实Soaring fame and solid reality
- fēi飞tǔ土zhú逐ròu宍drive away wild animals with clods
- fēi飞tǔ土zhú逐hài害throw earth to drive away pests
- fēi飞tǔ土zhú逐ròu肉hunt by throwing clods of earth
- fēi飞qiáng墙zǒu走bì壁scale walls and leap roofs
- fēi飞shēng声téng腾shí实soaring reputation and solid achievements
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Open the tool →Questions about 飞鸿雪爪
What does 飞鸿雪爪 mean?
飞鸿雪爪 (fēi hóng xuě zhǎo) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Traces or marks left by past events or experiences, likened to the fleeting imprints of a flying goose's claws on snow; something that leaves a momentary but distinct impression”.
How do you pronounce 飞鸿雪爪?
飞鸿雪爪 is pronounced fēi hóng xuě zhǎo in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 飞鸿雪爪 literally mean?
Literally, 飞鸿雪爪 means “flying goose's claws in the snow”. It is used to mean “Traces or marks left by past events or experiences, likened to the fleeting imprints of a flying goose's claws on snow; something that leaves a momentary but distinct impression”.
Where does 飞鸿雪爪 come from?
飞鸿雪爪 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 飞鸿雪爪?
比喻事情经过所留下的痕迹。同“飞鸿印雪”。