あっという間(ま)に

あっというまに

expression

in the blink of an eye; in no time; before you know it

1. in the blink of an eye; in no time; before you know it

Describes something happening so quickly that it feels almost instantaneous. Expresses surprise at how fast time passed or how quickly an event occurred.

休(やす)みがあっという間(ま)に終(お)わった。

The vacation was over in the blink of an eye.

子供(こども)はあっという間(ま)に大(おお)きくなる。

Children grow up before you know it.

楽(たの)しい時間(じかん)はあっという間(ま)に過(す)ぎてしまうので、一瞬一瞬(いっしゅんいっしゅん)を大切(たいせつ)にしたい。

Fun times pass by in no time, so I want to treasure every moment.

Literally "in the time it takes to say 'ah!'" — describing something so fast you can barely exclaim before it's over. This is one of the most commonly used expressions for describing the rapid passage of time in everyday Japanese.

Common collocations

あっという間(ま)に過(す)ぎる: to pass in no time
あっという間(ま)に終(お)わる: to be over in a flash
あっという間(ま)に広(ひろ)がる: to spread in no time
あっという間(ま)の出来事(できごと): something that happened in an instant

Similar words

一瞬(いっしゅん)で: in an instant — more neutral and precise; describes objective quickness
たちまち: in no time — slightly literary; emphasizes rapid transformation
瞬(またた)く間(ま)に: in the twinkling of an eye — more literary equivalent

Usage

Often used with 過(す)ぎる or 終(お)わる to express how quickly a pleasant experience ended. Can also describe unpleasant speed, such as news spreading or money running out.

Related Words

Compare: 一瞬で (in an instant)

Compare: たちまち (in no time)

Compare: 瞬(またた)く間(ま)に (in the twinkling of an eye)

Compare: みるみる (rapidly)

general

Added 2026.4.25 23:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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