1.
to blink, to wink
To close and open one's eyes quickly.
彼女は驚いて目を瞬いた。
She blinked in surprise.
瞬く間に終わった。
It ended in the blink of an eye.
Idiom
赤ちゃんは何も言わずにただ目を瞬いていた。
The baby just blinked without saying anything.
2.
to twinkle, to flicker
For stars or lights to shine with a flickering light.
星が瞬いている。
The stars are twinkling.
夜空に無数の星が瞬いていた。
Countless stars were twinkling in the night sky.
遠くの街の灯りが瞬いて見える。
The lights of the distant town can be seen twinkling.
TRANSITIVITY: 自動詞 (intransitive). Pattern: Xが瞬く (X blinks/twinkles).
ASPECT: ている indicates ongoing action. 瞬いている = 'is blinking/twinkling.'
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 目を瞬く (to blink one's eyes)
- 星が瞬く (stars twinkle)
- 瞬く間に (in the blink of an eye)
IDIOM: 瞬く間に - 'in the blink of an eye' - used to express something happening very quickly.
ALTERNATIVE READING: Also read as まばたく with similar meaning.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- まばたき - blink (noun)
- 輝く - to shine, sparkle