transient

transient — adjective

1. Something transient does not continue for long — it appears briefly, then fades

1.形容詞B2
釋義

Something transient does not continue for long — it appears briefly, then fades or passes on, often by its own nature rather than by an outside cause.

例句

The garden offered only a transient moment of peace before the children came running out.

transient + abstract noun: transient moment

Andrés felt a transient sadness when his friend moved away, but his spirits rose.

同義詞
  • temporary

    more common and practical; 'a temporary job' sounds natural, while 'a transient job' does not

  • fleeting

    even shorter duration, often poetic; 'a fleeting glance' is over in an instant

  • short-lived

    everyday equivalent; 'their happiness was short-lived' is neutral in register

  • brief

    general word for short duration; no implication of inevitable end

反義詞
  • permanent

    the direct opposite of transient in all contexts

  • lasting

    implies duration beyond the expected

  • enduring

    suggests continuing despite challenges

文法句型

transient + noun

be + transient

用法筆記

More formal than 'temporary'. Often describes abstract qualities (joy, fame, peace, beauty) or groups of people moving through an area (transient population, transient workers).

常見錯誤

❌I have a transient job at the supermarket.
✅I have a part-time job at the supermarket.
💡'transient' does not describe ordinary part-time work; it describes something that comes and goes by nature.
❌The weather was transient today.
✅The sunny weather turned out to be transient
💡it rained an hour later.' — 'transient' needs a context showing the change or end; a bare sentence sounds unnatural.

transient — noun