忽如

忽如

1. (literary) to be just like; to be similar to; as if; as though

   • 人生天地間，忽如遠行客 [MSC, trad.]
     人生天地间，忽如远行客 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 《青青陵上柏》

     rén shēng tiāndì jiān, hūrú yuǎnxíng kè [Pinyin]

     As we live between heaven and earth,
     Life is like a traveller going on a long journey.

   • 捐軀赴國難，視死忽如歸。 [MSC, trad.]
     捐躯赴国难，视死忽如归。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 3^rd century, Cao Zhi, 《白馬篇》

     Juānqū fù guónàn, shì sǐ hūrú guī. [Pinyin]

     Devoted to nothing but the country's rescue,
     He stares into the face of Death proud and ready.
     (literally, “[...], he sees death like returning.”)

   • 進不辨貴，退不知賤，兀然造化，忽如草木。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     进不辨贵，退不知贱，兀然造化，忽如草木。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Southern Qi, by Xiao Zixian, 6^th century CE

     Jìn bù biàn guì, tuì bù zhī jiàn, wùrán zàohuà, hūrú cǎomù. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 忽如一夜春風來，千樹萬樹梨花開。 [MSC, trad.]
     忽如一夜春风来，千树万树梨花开。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 8^th century, Cen Shen, 《白雪歌送武判官歸京》

     Hūrú yī yè chūnfēng lái, qiān shù wàn shù líhuā kāi. [Pinyin]

     Is like a spring gale, come up in the night,
     Blowing open the petals of ten thousand peartrees.