The New Dictionary.
Search dictionary
Chinese/Dictionary entry

危如朝露

wēi rú zhāo lùdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
precarious as the morning dew (idiom) / fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-839457d68b11cb27. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

危如朝露 危如朝露 [wei1 ru2 zhao1 lu4] /precarious as the morning dew (idiom); fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

  • 危
    wēi

    danger / to endanger / Taiwan pr. [wéi]

    Wēi

    surname Wei

  • 如
    rú

    as / as if / such as

  • 朝
    cháo

    imperial or royal court / government / dynasty / reign of a sovereign or emperor / court or assembly held by a sovereign or emperor / to make a pilgrimage to / facing / towards

    zhāo

    morning

    Cháo

    abbr. for 朝鮮|朝鲜[Cháo xiǎn] Korea

  • 露
    lòu

    to show / to reveal / to betray / to expose

    lù

    dew / syrup / nectar / outdoors (not under cover) / to show / to reveal / to betray / to expose

    Lù

    surname Lu

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.