ひらめく
ひらめく
verb (godan, intransitive)
to flash; to flicker; to have a flash of inspiration
1.
to flash; to flicker; to flutter
To flash or flicker briefly, often describing light or something moving quickly.
稲妻がひらめいた。
Lightning flashed.
旗が風にひらめいている。
The flag is fluttering in the wind.
2.
to have a flash of inspiration; to strike (idea)
For an idea or thought to suddenly come to mind.
いいアイデアがひらめいた。
A good idea struck me.
TRANSITIVITY:
Intransitive verb (自動詞). No pair verb.
KANJI:
Can be written as 閃く. The kanji 閃 suggests a flash or sparkle.
ASPECT:
- ひらめいた (past) - a sudden flash or inspiration
- ひらめいている (progressive) - ongoing flickering/fluttering
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- アイデアがひらめく (an idea strikes)
- 稲妻がひらめく (lightning flashes)
- 旗がひらめく (flag flutters)
- ひらめきを得る (to get inspiration)
RELATED NOUN:
ひらめき - flash of inspiration, brilliance, intuition
- ひらめきがある (to have brilliance/intuition)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- きらめく - to sparkle/glitter (sustained, beautiful)
- 光る - to shine (general light emission)
- 思いつく - to think of/come up with (more deliberate)