also: ほうよう
noun
bubbles and shadows; something transient
Literary or poetic term for the ephemeral nature of things, likening them to bubbles on water or fleeting shadows. Often used in Buddhist or philosophical contexts to describe the impermanence of life.
人生は泡影のごとし。
Life is like bubbles and shadows.
富も名誉も泡影に過ぎない。
Wealth and fame are nothing more than something transient.
Compound of 泡 (ほう, 'bubble') and 影 (えい, 'shadow'), both symbols of transience. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a classical Chinese-derived expression used in Japanese literature and Buddhist texts.