1.
in the blink of an eye; in an instant; in no time
Describes something happening extremely quickly, in the time it takes to blink. Often used to express surprise at how fast something occurred.
火は瞬く間に広がった。
The fire spread in an instant.
新商品は瞬く間に売り切れた。
The new product sold out in no time.
子供たちは瞬く間に大きくなるので、一日一日を大切にしたい。
Children grow up in the blink of an eye, so I want to cherish each day.
Literally 'in the interval of blinking' (瞬く to blink + 間 interval + に). The image is that something happens so fast it occurs within a single blink of the eye.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 瞬く間に広がる: to spread in an instant
- 瞬く間に過ぎる: to pass in a flash
- 瞬く間に売り切れる: to sell out instantly
- 瞬く間に消える: to vanish in an instant
SIMILAR WORDS:
- あっという間に: in no time, before you know it — more colloquial and conversational
- 一瞬で: in a moment — emphasizes a single instant
- たちまち: immediately, at once — similar speed but slightly more formal
- みるみる: visibly, rapidly — emphasizes that the change is observable in real time