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Yalejyún ngáahn
Definition
In the blink of an eye; in an instant; describing how fast time passes.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Focuses on the suddenness of time passing or a rapid change in a situation. It is frequently used to express surprise at how quickly something has occurred, often carrying a sense of nostalgia or disbelief.
Examples
In the blink of an eye, it's Christmas again.
Related words
Common phrases
in the blink of an eye
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with physical turning or rotating, which uses the same characters but functions as a verb. In this adverbial sense, it strictly describes the speed of an event or the passage of time.
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.
