瞬间 (shùn jiān) — a split second, an instant

Definition

瞬间 names a very brief moment, emphasizing how quickly something happened. Compared to 刹那 (a Buddhist-origin term for the same split-second idea, more literary), 瞬间 is the everyday, neutral choice.

noun

a split secondan instant

Examples

，。
Jiù zài nà yí shùn jiān, tā zuò chū le jué dìng.
Just at that instant, he made a decision.
。
Tā yí shùn jiān jiù bú jiàn le.
He disappeared in an instant.
，。
Nà yí shùn jiān, suǒ yǒu rén dōu ān jìng le xià lái.
In that instant, everyone fell silent.