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.
決定的瞬間をカメラに収めた。
I captured the decisive moment on camera.
試合の決定的瞬間を見逃した。
I missed the decisive moment of the game.
歴史の決定的瞬間を記録した写真が展示されている。
Photographs that recorded decisive moments in history are on display.
A compound of 決定的 (decisive, conclusive) + 瞬間 (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:
- 決定的瞬間を捉える: to capture the decisive moment
- 決定的瞬間を逃す: to miss the decisive moment
- 決定的瞬間が訪れる: the decisive moment arrives
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 決定的な場面: a decisive scene — similar but emphasizes a broader scene or context rather than a single instant
- 転換点: turning point — focuses on a shift in direction, while 決定的瞬間 emphasizes the single moment that seals the outcome