はかなむ

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

despair of; see the vanity of

Literary and somewhat old-fashioned; expresses a feeling of realizing the transience or emptiness of something and feeling disheartened. Often used with abstract nouns like 人生 (life) or 世の中 (the world).

• 彼かれは人じん生せいをはかなんで、山やまにこもった。

  He despaired of life and secluded himself in the mountains.

• 老おいて、すべてをはかなむようになった。

  Growing old, he came to see the vanity of everything.