1.
instant, spur of the moment, split second
A very brief moment requiring an immediate, instinctive response. Almost always used in the pattern 咄嗟に or 咄嗟の.
咄嗟 is almost exclusively used in two patterns: 咄嗟に (adverbially) and 咄嗟の (as a modifier). It is rarely used on its own.
Common patterns
- 咄嗟に + verb: instinctively, reflexively
- 咄嗟の判断: snap judgment
- 咄嗟の出来事: sudden occurrence
- 咄嗟のことで〜: it happened so suddenly that ~
Usage: Implies that the reaction was instinctive rather than deliberate. The kanji 咄嗟 are rarely written; the hiragana form とっさ is common.