seon3 gaan1瞬間瞬间
Jyutpingseon3 gaan1
Yaleseun gāan
Definition
An instant, a flash, or a very short moment.
writtentimedescriptions
How it's used
While 瞬間 is widely understood, it carries a slightly more literary or dramatic tone compared to everyday spoken expressions like 眨下眼. It is frequently used in media, news reports, or emotional storytelling to emphasize the speed of an event. When describing something happening very quickly in casual conversation, native speakers almost always prefer 眨下眼 or 一陣間.
Examples
Do you remember this moment?
Related words
Common phrases
to be immediately effective
to vanish in an instant
Common mistake
Learners often use 瞬間 as a direct translation for any time-related moment, but it specifically emphasizes the fleeting or instantaneous nature of an event. It is not suitable for referring to a duration of time, such as waiting for a few minutes.
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.
