"Is 'ephemeral' a noun or an adjective?"

Phù du (蜉蝣) is a Vietnamese word of Chinese origin, and the Comprehensive Dictionary of Chinese Language explains it with four meanings:

The name of an insect. The larvae live in water, and when mature they are greenish-brown, have four wings, and an extremely short life cycle.
Life is small and fleeting.
For example, someone who is frivolous and shallow; or someone whose writing is superficial and meaningless.
Like "浮蟻" – foam that rises to the surface of wine.

In Vietnamese, "phù du" (dull/fleet) is originally a noun. For example: "People are like a fleeting shadow/ Here today, gone tomorrow, all efforts wasted"; "How long does an ant crawl around a cup/ A mayfly glides on the wind, an ant swarms around a tiger's mouth" (Folk poem). Here, "phù du" refers to an insect with a short lifespan, and it is used as a metaphor for human life.

However, in a figurative sense, "phù du" (ephemeral) is an adjective meaning fleeting, transient, and no longer directly associated with the mayfly. For example: "Life is like a mayfly's fleeting moment / Here today, gone tomorrow / All efforts wasted" - Folk song; "Thirty-six thousand days are but a few / The fleeting nature of life is painful to behold" - Lament of the Concubine; "Thirty-six thousand days are but a few / The fleeting nature of life is also laughable" - Cao Bá Quát).

Why did the program ask the question "Is 'phù du' a noun or an adjective?" and why was the program's answer "noun"? In our opinion, the program producers probably based their answer on the Vietnamese Dictionary (edited by Hoàng Phê, Institute of Linguistics edition). This is the dictionary that the "King of Vietnamese" uses for reference and always presents to viewers every week on air. The entry for "phù du" in this dictionary only explains the original meaning: "d. A hymenopteran insect whose larvae live in flowing water, and whose adults only live in the air for a very short time."

However, we must reiterate that, for a particular word, if it is not included in a dictionary, it does not mean that it does not exist in reality; and just because this dictionary does not have it does not mean that all other dictionaries do not have it.

In practical terms, the adjective "ephemeral" has been used as evidenced above. This shows that the adjective "ephemeral" inherently exists in linguistic life regardless of whether it is recorded in dictionaries or not.

From a lexicographical perspective, the Vietnamese Dictionary that the King of Vietnamese Language used as a reference does not recognize "phù du" as an adjective, but many other dictionaries clearly recognize it as both a "noun" and an "adjective," and even as a "verb":

- The Vietnamese Dictionary (edited by Nguyen Nhu Y) under the entry "phù du" (ephemeral) explains two meanings: "I. Noun. A small insect with wings that can fly, living underwater for a very short time. II. Adjective. Short-lived (life): The fleeting nature of life is painful to behold (from the Lament of the Concubine)."

- Vietnamese Dictionary (Le Van Duc): “Phu Du • verb. To go on a leisurely stroll. • noun (verb): A type of winged insect that perches on the surface of water and only lives for a few hours: How long does an ant crawl on the rim of a cup? Phu Du glides on the wind, flies swarm around the mouth of a tiger (CD). • adjective (B) Short - fleeting, in a moment: Fleeting scene, fleeting life, fleeting moment.”

Therefore, the question should have been: In its original meaning, what word class does "ephemeral" belong to?; or In the sentence "People are like ephemeral shadows," is "ephemeral" a noun or an adjective? etc. Asking "Is 'ephemeral' a noun or an adjective?" without considering the context is incorrect, and answering "noun" or "adjective" would both be inaccurate.

Man Nong (Contributor)

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/phu-du-la-danh-tu-hay-tinh-tu-271612.htm