# 雪泥鸿爪

xuě ní hóng zhǎo

Fleeting traces of past experiences

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** A goose’s claw marks in snowy mud

**Traditional Chinese:** 雪泥鴻爪

**Register:** Formal · literary

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Use literary reflection on transient memories and footprints.

Usually reflective, not a literal forensic clue.

## Understanding the expression

Footprints in wet snow briefly show that a bird passed through, then vanish as conditions change. The expression gives that fragile trace to human journeys, meetings, and memories. It is literary and often wistful, suggesting that life leaves marks which are real but not permanent. Old letters or a photograph may preserve something of a vanished moment. The emphasis is transience and remembrance rather than a demand to make every experience last forever.

## Examples

旧照片像雪泥鸿爪，留下青春的痕迹。

### Traditional Chinese

舊照片像雪泥鴻爪，留下青春的痕跡。

jiù zhào piàn xiàng xuě ní hóng zhǎo ， liú xià qīng chūn de hén jì 。

The old photographs preserve fleeting traces of youth.

旅途中的相遇不过雪泥鸿爪。

### Traditional Chinese

旅途中的相遇不過雪泥鴻爪。

lǚ tú zhōng de xiāng yù bú guò xuě ní hóng zhǎo 。

Meetings on the journey were only fleeting traces.

这些日记记录了人生的雪泥鸿爪。

### Traditional Chinese

這些日記記錄了人生的雪泥鴻爪。

zhè xiē rì jì jì lù le rén shēng de xuě ní hóng zhǎo 。

These diaries record the transient traces of a life.

故地重游，她寻找昔日的雪泥鸿爪。

### Traditional Chinese

故地重遊，她尋找昔日的雪泥鴻爪。

gù dì chóng yóu ， tā xún zhǎo xī rì de xuě ní hóng zhǎo 。

Returning to the old place, she searched for traces of the past.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%9B%AA%E6%B3%A5%E9%B4%BB%E7%88%AA)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=925&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [杳如黄鹤 yǎo rú huáng hè Disappear without a trace ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yao-ru-huang-he)

- [一波三折 yī bō sān zhé Undergo many twists and setbacks ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-bo-san-zhe)

- [一成不变 yī chéng bù biàn Remain fixed and unchanged ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-cheng-bu-bian)

- [一帆风顺 yī fān fēng shùn Proceed smoothly without obstacles ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-fan-feng-shun)

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