稍縱即逝

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Chinese

somewhat; a little even if; release; vertical
namely; right away; to approach
namely; right away; to approach; to draw near
 
 depart; die
trad. (稍縱即逝) 稍 縱 即 逝
simp. (稍纵即逝) 稍 纵 即 逝

Etymology

From a famous prose by Su Shi:

故畫竹必先得成竹於胸中，執筆熟視，乃見其所欲畫者，急起從之，振筆直遂，以追其所見，如兔起鶻落，少縱則逝矣。
故画竹必先得成竹于胸中，执笔熟视，乃见其所欲画者，急起从之，振笔直遂，以追其所见，如兔起鹘落，少纵则逝矣。
From: c. 1079, Su Shi（蘇軾）, 《文與可畫篔簹谷偃竹記》, translated by Lin Yutang
Gù huà zhú bì xiān dé chéng zhú yú xiōngzhōng, zhíbǐ shúshì, nǎi jiàn qí suǒ yù huà zhě, jí qǐ cóng zhī, zhèn bǐ zhí suì, yǐ zhuī qí suǒjiàn, rú tù qǐ hú luò, shào zòng zé shì yǐ.
Therefore in painting bamboos, one must have bamboo formed in one's breast; at the time of painting, one concentrates and sees what one wants to paint. Immediately one follows the idea, handles one's brush to pursue the image just seen, like a hawk swooping down on a rabbit. With a moment's hesitation, it would be lost.

Note: here in Classical Chinese 少 (shǎo) and 稍 (shāo) share the same meaning.

Pronunciation

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Particularly: “Hokkien”
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Particularly: “Teochew”

Adjective

稍縱即逝

  1. (literary) transient; fleeting
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