1.
flash of inspiration; sudden idea; stroke of genius
A sudden, intuitive idea or insight that comes to mind without deliberate thought. Derived from the verb ひらめく (to flash, to strike upon an idea).
Usage
ひらめき is usually written in hiragana. It emphasizes the spontaneous, intuitive nature of an idea, as opposed to something arrived at through logical reasoning.
Common collocations
- ひらめきが生まれる (an idea is born)
- ひらめきを得る (get an inspiration)
- 一瞬のひらめき (a momentary flash)
- ひらめきがある (have a flash of inspiration)
Similar words
アイデア is the loanword for "idea" and is more general. 思いつき means "idea" or "thought" but can carry a negative nuance of being half-baked or impulsive. ひらめき always implies something positive — a creative or clever insight.
Related Words
Related:
ひらめく (to flash)