zyun2 seon3 gaan1轉瞬間转瞬间
Jyutpingzyun2 seon3 gaan1
Yalejyún seun gāan
Definition
In an instant; in the blink of an eye.
neutraltime
How it's used
Carries a literary or slightly dramatic flair, often used to emphasize how surprisingly fast something occurred. It is more common in narrative storytelling or when reflecting on the passage of time rather than in mundane, step by step instructions. While it functions as an adverbial phrase, it feels more descriptive than a simple time marker like 眨眼間.
Examples
A year has passed in an instant, time really flies.
Why did you disappear in an instant?
Related words
Common phrases
disappear in an instant
complete in an instant
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 轉頭, which means 'in a moment' or 'shortly' and implies an intention to do something soon, whereas 轉瞬間 describes an event that has already happened or is happening with unexpected speed.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
