life is but a dream; this too shall pass; everything is transient
Proverbial expression conveying the Buddhist-influenced idea that worldly existence is fleeting and insubstantial, like a dream. Often used to console or to express a detached, philosophical attitude toward life's ups and downs.
See also: 浮世
If you think of life as a dream, even painful things become a little easier to bear.
彼は浮世は夢と悟り、世俗の欲を捨てた。
He realized that life is but a dream and abandoned worldly desires.
諸行無常 is a Buddhist term meaning 'all things are impermanent', more formal and doctrinal than the poetic 浮世は夢.
Standard kanji spelling for this proverb.
Variant spelling with okurigana; less common but still encountered.
The phrase combines 浮世 (ukiyo, 'the floating world' or 'transient world') with 夢 (yume, 'dream'), reflecting the Buddhist concept of impermanence. The exact origin is uncertain, but it has been used in classical Japanese literature and proverbs.