The word 短暂 is formed by combining two characters that each convey a sense of brevity in time, creating a reinforced and nuanced meaning. The first character, 短 (duǎn), directly means "short" in length or duration. The second, 暂 (zàn), carries the meaning of "temporary", "momentary", or "for the time being". By joining them, the concept evolves from simply "short" to specifically "short-lived" or "transient", merging the idea of limited length with the condition of being provisional, together painting a complete picture of something fleeting or of brief duration.