Korean word

순식간

Pronunciation

Romanizationsunsikkkan

Meaning

  • nouninstant

Example

밥이 순식간에 식었다.pa bi sun sik kka ne si geot tta

The rice cooled in an instant.

Illustration for 순식간 (instant)

More examples

무대 앞에 사람들이 순식간에 몰려들었다.mu dae a pe sa ram deu ri sun sik kka ne mol lyeo deu reot tta

People poured toward the front of the stage in an instant.

Core concept

A whole event fits into the tiny gap of a blink.

Common phrases

  • 순식간에sun sik kka ne

    in no time

  • 순식간에 몰려들다sun sik kka ne mol lyeo deul da

    pour in at once

Similar words

순간sungan: A brief point in time when something happens.
잠깐chamkkan: An action or pause lasts only a short time.
눈 깜짝할 사이nun kkamjjakal ssai: An event happens within the time of a single blink.

Definition in Korean

아주 짧은 시간이나 순간을 가리키는 말로, 일이 눈 깜짝할 사이에 일어남을 나타낸다.a ju jjal beun si ga ni na sun ga neul ka ri ki neun mal lo i ri nun kkam jja kal ssa i e i reo na meul na ta naen da

Word origin

This Sino-Korean compound combines the ideas of a blink, a breath, and an interval to express an extremely brief span.

Usage tips

  • The adverbial form is useful when a change seems to happen before anyone has time to react.

Opposites

Word lists with this word