Japanese Conversation · Level 32
90 words
Japanese word
とっさ
Pronunciation
Romajitossa
Meaning
- nouninstant
Example
彼はとっさに反応しました。kare wa to ssa ni han nō shi ma shi ta
He reacted in an instant.
More examples
危険を感じた彼は、とっさにブレーキを踏みました。ki ken o kan ji ta kare wa to ssa ni bu rē ki o fu mi ma shi ta
When he sensed danger, he instinctively hit the brakes.
Core concept
It presents time as nearly absent between an unexpected stimulus and the reaction it produces.
Common phrases
とっさに反応するto ssa ni han nō su ru
react instantly
とっさの判断to ssa no han dan
a split-second decision
とっさに身をかわすto ssa ni mi o ka wa su
dodge instinctively
Similar words
即座sokuza: A response or action that occurs at once, leaving no time for delay.
瞬時shunji: An extremely short period during which an action or change takes place.
瞬間shunkan: A brief point in time that may occur during any kind of event.
Definition in Japanese
考える余裕のない、きわめて短い時間。kanga e ru yo yū no na i ki wa me te mijika i ji kan
Word origin
とっさ (tossa) is the Japanese reading of the Sino-Japanese compound 咄嗟 (tossa), combining 咄 (totsu, "a sudden utterance") and 嗟 (sa, "a sigh") to describe a quick reaction.
Usage tips
- とっさ (tossa) can describe a mental choice as well as a physical reaction, which makes it useful when a response happens before conscious planning.
Other meanings
- spur of the momentnoun