flüchtig
/ˈflʏçtɪç/1
fleeting, transient • adj.
lasting only for a short time; not permanent. Used to describe moments, encounters, or states that pass quickly.
„Ein flüchtiger Blick aus dem Fenster.“
"A fleeting glance out the window."
2
superficial, perfunctory • adj.
lacking depth, thoroughness, or careful attention. Often applied to knowledge, inspections, or relationships.
„Er war nur flüchtig mit dem Projekt vertraut.“
"He was only superficially familiar with the project."
3
volatile, short-tempered • adj.
(of a person) quick to anger or change mood, but also quick to calm down.
„Sie ist manchmal etwas flüchtig, aber es vergeht schnell.“
"She can be a bit short-tempered sometimes, but it passes quickly."
Usage in Context
„Wir hatten eine flüchtige Begegnung am Bahnhof.“
"We had a brief encounter at the train station."
„Der Bericht war nur eine flüchtige Zusammenfassung der Fakten.“
"The report was only a cursory summary of the facts."
„Flüchtige Erkenntnisse ersetzen keine gründliche Forschung.“
"Superficial insights do not replace thorough research."
Etymology & Notes
flüchtig derives from Middle High German vlühtic, from the verb fliehen (to flee, to flow). The core sense relates to something that "fleets" or passes quickly. Over time, it expanded to describe not only temporal brevity but also lack of depth or thoroughness (something that "slips by" without careful examination). Related to English "flight" and Latin "fugere" (to flee).