life as fleeting as dew
Poetic metaphor for the transience of life, often used in classical literature and waka poetry. Not used in everyday conversation.
When you think of life as fleeting as dew, you feel you should live each day preciously.
Compound of 露 (dew) and 命 (life), literally 'dew life'. The metaphor of dew as a symbol of transience is ancient and widespread in Japanese poetry.