薤かい露ろ

noun

ephemerality of life; transience of the human world

A classical literary expression evoking the brevity of life, often with a mournful tone. The literal image is dew on onion leaves, symbolizing tears of grief.

• 「薤かい露ろ」は、人じん生せいのはかなさを詠よんだ漢かん詩しの一いっ節せつに由ゆ来らいする言こと葉ばだ。

  The word 薤露 comes from a line in a Chinese poem that laments the transience of life.