to wink, to blink; an instant, the blink of an eye
t, 17 strokes, radical 目, rank #28725, Very Hard
shùn(shun4)shun T4
1to wink
2to wink, to blink; an instant, the blink of an eye
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March 24, 2026
瞬shùn(shun4)
The character 瞬 (shùn) primarily means 'to wink' or 'to blink,' signifying a very brief moment in time, similar to 'an instant.' It is often used in contexts that emphasize the fleeting nature of time or events, making it relevant in both literary and conversational Chinese.
Strokes17Radical目Frequency#28725DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of time is often viewed as fluid and transient, which aligns with the meaning of 瞬. This character can also be found in literary expressions and poetry that reflect the ephemeral nature of life and moments.
Memory Tip
Imagine a quick wink that happens in the blink of an eye—this is 瞬 (shùn). The character features the eye radical (目), emphasizing its connection to sight and the rapidity of winking, much like how quickly one can say 'shun' when they want to convey something swiftly.
Meanings of 瞬
shùn(shun4)
1to wink
2to wink, to blink; an instant, the blink of an eye
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 瞬 means.
About 瞬
瞬Simplified
17Strokes
目Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#28725Frequency Rank
Podcast: 瞬
Podcast: 瞬
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AI Study Notes for 瞬
Quick Contrast
瞬 (shùn) vs 霎 (shā) — use 瞬 for a general sense of a brief moment, while 霎 specifically refers to a very short, sudden period, often used in poetic contexts.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 瞬 with similar-sounding words like 顺 (shùn), which means 'smooth' or 'to follow.' This word is typically used in informal contexts when referring to a blink or a very short period, so it may not be suitable for formal writing. Common collocations include 瞬间 (shùnjiān) meaning 'instant' or 'moment.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 瞬 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it aids learners in understanding more complex concepts of time and perception that are common in intermediate-level texts. Students should focus on recognizing its use in descriptive contexts related to time.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 瞬 with 瞑 (míng), which means 'to close the eyes' or 'to meditate,' leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我瞬眼' (Wǒ shùn yǎn) instead of '我眨眼' (Wǒ zhǎ yǎn) meaning 'I blink' is incorrect; the correct character for blink is 眨 (zhǎ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 瞬
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How Well Do You Know 瞬?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 瞬 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
瞬 = 目 + 舜. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 瞬
IDS Structure⿰目舜
瞬Full Character
=
目mu4
left
舜Shun4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 瞬?
How to say to wink in Chinese
“to wink” in Chinese is瞬shùn
The character 瞬 (shùn) primarily means 'to wink' or 'to blink,' signifying a very brief moment in time, similar to 'an instant.' It is often used in contexts that emphasize the fleeting nature of time or events, making it relevant in both literary and conversational Chinese.
When to use 瞬
Be careful not to confuse 瞬 with similar-sounding words like 顺 (shùn), which means 'smooth' or 'to follow.' This word is typically used in informal contexts when referring to a blink or a very short period, so it may not be suitable for formal writing. Common collocations include 瞬间 (shùnjiān) meaning 'instant' or 'moment.'
瞬 or something close to it
瞬 (shùn) vs 霎 (shā) — use 瞬 for a general sense of a brief moment, while 霎 specifically refers to a very short, sudden period, often used in poetic contexts.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 瞬 with 瞑 (míng), which means 'to close the eyes' or 'to meditate,' leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我瞬眼' (Wǒ shùn yǎn) instead of '我眨眼' (Wǒ zhǎ yǎn) meaning 'I blink' is incorrect; the correct character for blink is 眨 (zhǎ).
Write 瞬
瞬
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Practice writing 瞬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 瞬
瞬 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
有一____间，阿诺德对威尔逊先生心生同情。
For a moment, Arnold felt a twinge of sympathy for Mr Wilson.
