phút chốc
Definition
- Noun:
- A moment / an instant: A very short, fleeting period of time, emphasizing the brief and transient nature of the moment.
- In a flash / in a jiffy: Used to describe something happening extremely quickly, almost imperceptibly.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Phút chốc, cô ấy đã biến mất. (In an instant, she disappeared.)
- Mọi chuyện thay đổi chỉ trong phút chốc. (Everything changed in a flash.)
- Công việc sẽ xong trong phút chốc thôi. (The work will be finished in a jiffy.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in literary or descriptive contexts to convey a sense of suddenness and the ephemeral quality of time or events.
Variants and Related Words
- Phút (n): minute; a unit of time, or a general term for a short moment.
- Chốc lát (n): a little while; a short period (similar to but can feel slightly less immediate).
- Thoáng chốc (n): in a fleeting moment; a variant emphasizing the fleeting aspect.
Synonyms
- Instant: a precise point in time.
- Moment: a very brief period.
- Flash: a sudden, very brief event.
- Jiffy: a very short time (informal).
Related Idioms
- Trong phút chốc: in a moment's time; instantly.
- Cơn bão ập đến trong phút chốc. (The storm arrived in a moment's time.)