saap3 si4 gaan1霎時間霎时间
Jyutpingsaap3 si4 gaan1
Yalesaap sìh gāan
Definition
In an instant; in a split second; all of a sudden.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Focuses on the suddenness of an event that happens unexpectedly or changes the situation instantly. It is often used to describe a dramatic shift in circumstances or a quick disappearance. While it implies a very short duration, it carries a slightly more literary or descriptive tone compared to the very common colloquial term 一陣間.
Examples
It started raining heavily in an instant, so we ran inside to take shelter immediately.
He disappeared in a blink of an eye, I wonder where he went?
Related words
Common phrases
changed in an instant
vanished in a split second
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a short duration that you have planned or controlled, such as taking a nap or waiting for a bus. It is specifically for sudden, often surprising, occurrences rather than a simple measurement of time.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
