空うつ蝉せみ

noun

this mortal world; this transient life; one's present existence

Literary and poetic term emphasizing the fleeting, insubstantial nature of worldly existence, often contrasted with spiritual or eternal truths. Common in classical Japanese literature and Buddhist-influenced writing.

• うつせみの世よははかないものだ。

  This mortal world is fleeting.

• 彼かれはうつせみの身みを嘆なげいた。

  He lamented his transient existence.

noun

cast-off cicada shell; cicada

Refers literally to the empty exoskeleton left behind when a cicada molts. The word 'cicada' itself can also be meant, but the shell sense is more distinctive. The kanji 空蝉 directly suggests this image.

• 木きの幹みきに空うつ蝉せみがくっついていた。

  A cast-off cicada shell was stuck to the tree trunk.

• 夏なつになると、庭にわで空うつ蝉せみをよく見みかける。

  In summer, I often see cicada shells in the garden.