HSK · Level 55
105 words
Chinese word
转眼
Pronunciation
Pinyinzhuǎn yǎn
Meaning
- adverbin the blink of an eye
Example
暑假转眼就过去了。shǔ jià zhuán yǎn jiù guò qù le
Summer vacation was over in the blink of an eye.
More examples
他一转眼就学会了做饭。tā yì zhuán yǎn jiù xué huì le zuò fàn
He learned to cook in the blink of an eye.
Core concept
A scene, period, or condition vanishes or shifts while attention is still fixed on the earlier moment.
Common phrases
一转眼就yì zhuán yǎn jiù
in the blink of an eye
转眼之间zhuán yǎn zhī jiān
in the blink of an eye
Similar words
一眨眼yì zhá yǎn: A change happens in the tiny amount of time needed for one blink.
转眼间zhuán yǎn jiān: Time or a scene slips past unnoticed in a very short span.
瞬间shùn jiān: Something happens or changes immediately at a single instant.
Definition in Chinese
表示在极短时间内发生、结束或改变，侧重瞬间完成或转瞬即逝，常用作副词。biǎo shì zài jí duǎn shí jiān nèi fā shēng jié shù huò gǎi biàn cè zhòng shùn jiān wán chéng huò zhuǎn shùn jí shì cháng yòng zuò fù cí
Word origin
The compound links 转 (zhuǎn, "turn or change") with 眼 (yǎn, "eye"), using a tiny eye movement as a natural measure for a sudden shift in time or circumstances.
Usage tips
- English learners may reach for "quickly," but this adverb often highlights how soon a new state appears rather than the speed of an action itself.
Opposites
- 慢慢màn mànslowlyadverb
- 逐渐zhú jiàngraduallyadverb
Related words
- 转眼间zhuán yǎn jiānin the blink of an eyeadverb
- 一转眼yì zhuán yǎnin an instantadverb