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瞬间 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
瞬间shùnjiānmomentHSK 6, t, 24 strokes, rank #5031, Hard
瞬间shùnjiānmomentaryHSK 6, t, 24 strokes, rank #5031, Hard
瞬间shùnjiānin a flashHSK 6, t, 24 strokes, rank #5031, Hard
shùnjiān(shun4jian1)shun jian T4
  1. 1moment
  2. 2momentary
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March 24, 2026

瞬间(瞬間)shùnjiān(shun4jian1)

瞬间 (shun4 jian1) refers to a very brief moment in time, often emphasizing the fleeting nature of that moment. It is commonly used in both spoken and written language to describe something that occurs instantaneously or within a heartbeat, often evoking a sense of urgency or transience.

Strokes24Frequency#5031DifficultyHard
Cultural note

瞬间 reflects a cultural appreciation for the transient beauty of life, often found in Chinese poetry and philosophy that emphasizes living in the present and cherishing fleeting moments.

Memory tip

Think of 瞬 (shun4) as 'shun' a flash, like a shooting star that appears for just a moment in the sky, while 间 (jian1) can remind you of 'between' moments. Together, you can visualize a star that shines brightly but only for an instant.

Meanings of 瞬间

shùnjiān(shun4jian1)
1moment
2momentary
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 瞬间

瞬间Simplified
瞬間Traditional
24Strokes
—Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#5031Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 瞬间

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AI study notes for 瞬间

Quick Contrast

瞬息 (shùnxī) - use 瞬间 for a specific brief moment, while 瞬息 emphasizes the fleeting nature of time itself.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 瞬间; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious when pairing it with verbs, as it typically describes actions that happen quickly.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 瞬间 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to time and perception. Students should focus on using it in descriptive contexts and practice collocations with verbs like '发生' (happen) or '消失' (disappear) to enhance their fluency.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 瞬间 with 片刻 (piàn kè), which represents a slightly longer period of time. Remember that 瞬间 emphasizes an instant, while 片刻 suggests a brief but more substantial moment.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 瞬间

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Component characters

瞬shùnto wink
17 strokes目
View full entry
间jiānbetween
HSK 27 strokes门
View full entry

How to say moment in Chinese

“moment” in Chinese is瞬间shùnjiān

瞬间 (shun4 jian1) refers to a very brief moment in time, often emphasizing the fleeting nature of that moment. It is commonly used in both spoken and written language to describe something that occurs instantaneously or within a heartbeat, often evoking a sense of urgency or transience.

When to use 瞬间

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 瞬间; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious when pairing it with verbs, as it typically describes actions that happen quickly.

瞬间 or something close to it

瞬息 (shùnxī) - use 瞬间 for a specific brief moment, while 瞬息 emphasizes the fleeting nature of time itself.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 瞬间 with 片刻 (piàn kè), which represents a slightly longer period of time. Remember that 瞬间 emphasizes an instant, while 片刻 suggests a brief but more substantial moment.

Write 瞬间

瞬
间

Practice writing 瞬间 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 瞬间

瞬间 carries 3 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____,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.

Example sentences for 瞬间 (7)

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1
有一瞬间,阿诺德对威尔逊先生心生同情。

yǒu yīshùnjiān, Ā nuò dé duì wēi ěr xùn xiānsheng xīn shēng tóngqíng。

For a moment, Arnold felt a twinge of sympathy for Mr Wilson.
2
油轮外部金属板覆层破裂的那一瞬间,油开始外溢。

yóu lún wàibù jīnshǔ bǎn fù céng pòliè de nà yīshùnjiān, yóu kāishǐ wài yì。

The tanker began spilling oil the moment her outer plating ruptured.
3
那是个非常非常感人的瞬间。

nà shì gè fēicháng fēicháng gǎnrén de shùnjiān。

It was a very, very touching moment.
4
他拍的照片时机掌握完美,记录下了动人的快乐瞬间。

tā pāi de zhàopiàn shíjī zhǎngwò wánměi, jìlù xià le dòngrén de kuàilè shùnjiān。

His photo is a wonderful happy moment caught with perfect timing.
5
他回笑了一下,有那么一瞬间不动声色的脸上焕发出容光。

tā huí xiào le yíxià, yǒu nàme yīshùnjiān bù dòng shēng sè de liǎn shàng huànfā chū róng guāng。

He smiled back, which for an instant transfigured his unrevealing features.
6
他的左车灯亮了, 在一瞬间他就从此一去不复返了.

tā de zuǒ chē dēng liàng le, zài yīshùnjiān tā jiù cóngcǐ yī qù bù fù fǎn le.

His left signal light came on. In a moment he'd be gone.
7
她和迈克尔在一瞬间四目相对。

tā hé mài kè ěr zài yīshùnjiān sì mù xiāngduì。

Her gaze met Michael's for a split second.

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Frequently asked questions about 瞬间

Yes, 瞬间 can describe a momentary feeling or emotion that comes and goes quickly, such as joy or sadness.

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