閃光(せんこう)

せんこう
noun
flash; glint; flash of light
1. flash; flash of light; glint
A sudden, brief burst of bright light. Used for lightning, camera flashes, explosions, and figuratively for sudden flashes of insight or inspiration.
閃光(せんこう)が走(はし)った。
A flash of light shot across.
稲妻(いなずま)の閃光(せんこう)が夜空(よぞら)を照(て)らした。
A flash of lightning lit up the night sky.
爆発(ばくはつ)の閃光(せんこう)と同時(どうじ)に、激(はげ)しい衝撃波(しょうげきは)が襲(おそ)ってきた。
Simultaneously with the flash of the explosion, a violent shockwave hit.

Compound of 閃(せん) (to flash/glint) + 光(こう) (light). Describes an intense, instantaneous burst of light.

Common collocations

  • 閃光(せんこう)が走(はし)る (a flash runs/streaks)
  • 閃光(せんこう)が光(ひか)る (a flash shines)
  • 閃光弾(せんこうだん) (flashbang; flash grenade)
  • 閃光(せんこう)のように (like a flash — used for speed)

Usage

More dramatic and literary than simply saying 光(ひかり) (light). Conveys the sudden, intense quality of the flash. Also used in compound 閃光弾(せんこうだん) (flashbang). Be careful not to confuse with the many other せんこう homophones: 先行(せんこう) (precedence), 専攻(せんこう) (major/specialty), 線香(せんこう) (incense).

general
Added 2026.3.2 15:07 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
14500/14538_senkou