虚无缥缈

虛無縹緲

xūwú-piāomiǎo

idiom

Meanings

1 illusory and intangible
2 vague and elusive
3 shadowy and unreal

Characters

Examples

HSK 7-9

他的计划听起来虚无缥缈，没有可行性。

Tā de jìhuà tīngqǐlái xūwú-piāomiǎo, méiyǒu kěxíngxìng.

His plan sounds vague and unfeasible.

HSK 7-9

仙山在云雾中虚无缥缈。

Xiān shān zài yún wù zhōng xūwú-piāomiǎo.

The fairy mountain shimmers elusively through the mist.

Tips

history

From Bai Juyi's 《长恨歌》: 忽闻海上有仙山，山在虚无缥缈间 - describing Penglai, the mythical immortal island Emperor Xuanzong's envoy seeks.

Stroke Order

虚 xū

无 wú

缥 piāo

缈 miǎo