an instant; a moment; a split second
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
an instant; a very short time; a moment; a split second
literaryUsed in formal or literary contexts to indicate an extremely brief period of time. Commonly appears in set phrases such as 顷刻之间 (in an instant) or 顷刻间 (in a moment). Less colloquial than 马上 or 立刻.
Yī一
zhèn阵
kuáng狂
fēng风
chuī吹
lái来
，
jiāng江
miàn面
shàng上
qǐng顷
kè刻
jiān间
xiān掀
qǐ起
le了
jù巨
làng浪
。
A gust of wind blew, and in an instant, huge waves rose on the river surface.
Xǐ喜
xùn讯
chuán传
lái来
，
qǐng顷
kè刻
zhī之
jiān间
，
quán全
chǎng场
fèi沸
téng腾
le了
。
As soon as the good news arrived, the entire place erupted in excitement in a matter of moments.
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Huǒ火
shì势
màn蔓
yán延
de得
hěn很
kuài快
，
qǐng顷
kè刻
gōng工
fu夫
，
zhěng整
zuò座
fáng房
zi子
jiù就
bèi被
tūn吞
mò没
le了
。
The fire spread rapidly, and in no time at all, the entire house was engulfed.
Tā他
gāng刚
cái才
hái还
zài在
zhè这
lǐ里
，
qǐng顷
kè刻
jiù就
bù不
jiàn见
le了
zōng踪
yǐng影
。
He was just here a moment ago, but he disappeared in an instant.