雪泥鴻爪せつでいのこうそう

noun

ephemeral nature of human affairs; leaving no trace

A literary yojijukugo expressing the idea that human deeds and events are fleeting and leave no lasting mark, like footprints in snow that soon disappear. Rare in everyday speech; found in classical or poetic contexts.

• 人じん生せいの栄えい枯こ盛せい衰すいを雪せつ泥でい鴻のこう爪そうにたとえることがある。

  The ups and downs of life are sometimes likened to the ephemeral traces of footprints in snow.