seon3瞬
Jyutpingseon3
Yaleseun
Definition
An instant; a very short moment in time.
writtentimedescriptions
How it's used
This morpheme is almost exclusively found in formal or literary compounds rather than as a standalone verb in daily speech. It carries a sense of extreme brevity that emphasizes how quickly a moment passes. You will most frequently encounter it in set phrases describing time passing or sudden changes.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not attempt to use this as a standalone verb to mean blink or flash, as it is a bound morpheme. Learners often confuse it with 閃, which is the common verb for flashing or dodging.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
