一瞬(いっしゅん)

一瞬(いっしゅん) means an extremely brief moment — a split second. It can function as both a noun and an adverb.

Common patterns

• 一瞬(いっしゅん)の + noun: a momentary ~ (一瞬(いっしゅん)の出来事(できごと): a momentary event)
• 一瞬(いっしゅん)で: in an instant
• 一瞬(いっしゅん)にして: in a flash (slightly literary)
• ほんの一瞬(いっしゅん): just an instant

Usage

When used adverbially, it often appears at the beginning of a sentence: 一瞬(いっしゅん)、何(なに)が起(お)きたか分(わ)からなかった (For an instant, I didn't know what happened).

Similar words

• 瞬間(しゅんかん): moment, instant (often interchangeable, but 瞬間(しゅんかん) can also mean "the moment when")
• 一刻(いっこく): a moment (literary, often used with 一刻(いっこく)も早(はや)く — as soon as possible)

Etymology

一(いっ) (one) + 瞬(しゅん) (blink). Literally "one blink of an eye."