決 定 的 瞬 間(けっていてきしゅんかん)

けっていてきしゅんかん

noun

the decisive moment; the critical instant

time-general art

1. the decisive moment; the critical instant

A crucial point in time that determines an outcome, or the perfect moment captured in a photograph or event.

決定的瞬間(けっていてきしゅんかん)をカメラに収(おさ)めた。

I captured the decisive moment on camera.

試合(しあい)の決定的瞬間(けっていてきしゅんかん)を見逃(みのが)した。

I missed the decisive moment of the game.

歴史(れきし)の決定的瞬間(けっていてきしゅんかん)を記録(きろく)した写真(しゃしん)が展示(てんじ)されている。

Photographs that recorded decisive moments in history are on display.

A compound of 決定的(けっていてき) (decisive, conclusive) + 瞬間(しゅんかん) (moment, instant). The phrase became widely known through French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson's concept of 'the decisive moment' in photography. In Japanese, it is used both in the photography sense and more broadly for any critical turning point.

Common collocations

決定的瞬間(けっていてきしゅんかん)を捉(とら)える: to capture the decisive moment
決定的瞬間(けっていてきしゅんかん)を逃(のが)す: to miss the decisive moment
決定的瞬間(けっていてきしゅんかん)が訪(おとず)れる: the decisive moment arrives

Similar words

決定的(けっていてき)な場面(ばめん): a decisive scene — similar but emphasizes a broader scene or context rather than a single instant
転換点(てんかんてん): turning point — focuses on a shift in direction, while 決定的瞬間(けっていてきしゅんかん) emphasizes the single moment that seals the outcome

Related Words

Compare: 転換点(てんかんてん) (turning point)

general

Added 2026.4.7 9:59 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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