幻
Meanings
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
phantom; vision; illusion; apparition
Something that appears real but is not; a ghostly figure, mirage, or hallucination.
I saw a mirage in the desert.
It might have been an illusion.
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
something fleeting; short-lived dream
Used for hopes, dreams, or moments that vanish quickly; often carries a poetic or wistful tone.
His success vanished like a fleeting dream.
Youth is like something fleeting.
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
fabled item; mythical thing; very rare thing
Refers to legendary or almost unobtainable objects, such as a mythical beast or a legendary sword; also used for extremely rare real-world items.
A legendary sword was discovered.
This stamp is a very rare item.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉が幻に終わるfor something (a plan, hope, dream) to come to nothing, ending as a mere illusion
His dream of winning ended up being nothing but a fleeting dream.
- 幻を見るto see a vision or apparition
Sometimes you see visions when you have a fever.
- 幻の〈物〉a legendary or extremely rare N (that almost no one has actually seen)
This is said to be a legendary, near-mythical sword.
- 幻のように消えるto vanish like a phantom, disappear without a trace
She disappeared without a trace, like a phantom.
Expressions
- 幻を追うchase illusions; pursue a fantasy