transience
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transience
The quality or state of existing only for a limited time and not lasting forever. The term refers to the temporal limitation of life and all things.
Die alten Ruinen erinnern uns an die Vergänglichkeit des menschlichen Schaffens.
The old ruins remind us of the transience of human creation.
The word is derived from the adjective 'vergänglich' (transient). The ending '-keit' turns adjectives into nouns that describe a quality or state. So it literally means 'the state of being transient.'
Die Ausstellung thematisiert die Schönheit und Vergänglichkeit der Natur.
The exhibition explores the beauty and transience of nature.
'Vergänglichkeit' (transience) is a rather elevated and philosophical word. It is used in reflective, literary, or spiritual contexts, but rarely in everyday conversations.
In seinen Gedichten schreibt er oft über die Vergänglichkeit des Glücks.
In his poems, he often writes about the transience of happiness.
The noun is often combined with a genitive to say what is transient. Typical phrases are 'die Vergänglichkeit des Lebens' (the transience of life), 'die Vergänglichkeit der Schönheit' (the transience of beauty), or 'ein Symbol der Vergänglichkeit' (a symbol of transience).
Der Herbst mit seinen fallenden Blättern ist ein Symbol für die Vergänglichkeit.
Autumn, with its falling leaves, is a symbol of transience.
mortality
Sterblichkeit specifically refers to the fact that living beings must die and can direct attention to death. Vergänglichkeit describes more generally that life, things, or states exist only for a limited time. Use Sterblichkeit when referring to the possibility of death, and Vergänglichkeit when referring to passing away or changing more generally.
Die Vergänglichkeit des menschlichen Lebens zeigt sich auch im schnellen Wandel unserer Umgebung.
The transience of human life is also evident in the rapid changes in our surroundings.
Die Sterblichkeit des Menschen erinnert uns daran, dass niemand ewig leben kann.
Human mortality reminds us that no one can live forever.
