胡蝶之夢
Reading: こちょうのゆめ
Meaning: butterfly dream; uncertainty between reality and dreams
Listen to pronunciation
Example Sentence
The dream I had yesterday was as mysterious as the butterfly dream.
Usage Notes
From a Chinese philosophical story about a man who couldn't tell if he had dreamed of being a butterfly or if he was a butterfly dreaming of being a man. Used to describe the uncertain nature of reality.
Master this word on Sottaku!
Join thousands of learners mastering Japanese with our interactive flashcard system.
Start Learning Now