instant; moment; in a flash
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
a very short time; an instant; a split second
literaryOften used at the beginning of a sentence as a time expression indicating that something happens instantly. More literary and written than colloquial 马上 or 立刻. Often appears as 霎时间.
Shà霎
shí时
，
tiān天
kōng空
zhōng中
wū乌
yún云
mì密
bù布
。
In an instant, dark clouds filled the sky.
Tīng听
dào到
zhè这
ge个
xiāo消
xi息
，
tā他
shà霎
shí时
liǎn脸
sè色
cāng苍
bái白
。
Upon hearing the news, his face turned pale instantly.
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Shà霎
shí时
jiān间
，
dà大
yǔ雨
qīng倾
pén盆
ér而
xià下
。
In a split second, heavy rain poured down.
Dēng灯
huǒ火
shà霎
shí时
xī熄
miè灭
，
quán全
chǎng场
yī一
piàn片
qī漆
hēi黑
。
The lights went out instantly, plunging the entire hall into darkness.