Word Detail

The Japanese word 瞬間 （shunkan） generally means "moment," "instant," or "split second." It refers to a very short period of time. It often implies a specific, defined point in time or a brief duration. It can also suggest something sudden or unexpected.

⚫︎一瞬の出来事 Translation: A momentary event. ⚫︎危ない、瞬間だった！ Translation: That was a close call! (It was a dangerous moment!) ⚫︎瞬間的に集中する Translation: To concentrate intensely for a moment.

You can use 瞬間 （shunkan） to describe: ⚫︎A very brief period of time: Think of the blink of an eye. ⚫︎A specific point in time: Like the moment a photo is taken. ⚫︎Something that happens suddenly: A sudden realization. It’s used in various contexts, from everyday conversations to more formal settings.

瞬間 （shunkan） is typically written with the kanji 瞬間. The reading is しゅんかん in hiragana. There is no other common way to write this word. The okurigana is standard.

⚫︎一瞬 （isshun） - an instant, a moment. ⚫︎時 （toki） - time, moment. ⚫︎刹那 （setsuna） - a moment (often used poetically).

While there isn't a direct antonym, words that imply a longer duration can be considered opposites. ⚫︎永遠 （eien） - eternity. ⚫︎長時間 （choujikan） - a long time. ⚫︎しばらく （shibaraku） - for a while.

その瞬間、彼女は驚いた顔をした。 ・Translation: At that moment, she had a surprised expression. ・Explanation: This sentence describes a specific point in time when her expression changed.

ゴールが決まった瞬間、スタジアムは歓声に包まれた。 ・Translation: The stadium was filled with cheers the moment the goal was scored. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the moment when a specific action occurred, and its immediate consequence.

The word 瞬間 （shunkan） is a compound word. It’s made up of two kanji: ⚫︎瞬 （shun） - blink, instant. ⚫︎間 （kan） - interval, space, time. Therefore, 瞬間 （shunkan） literally means "the space of a blink," perfectly capturing the idea of a very short period.