Translation guide
Expresses that something happens extremely quickly, almost instantaneously. In Japanese, this is conveyed through set phrases, onomatopoeia, and adverbial expressions rather than a single word.
Describing an action or event that occurs in an extremely short time.
Literally 'in the time it takes to blink'. A common, natural phrase for something happening in the blink of an eye.
He solved the problem in the blink of an eye.
Means 'in the time it takes to say "ah"', implying something happened so fast you barely noticed. Very common in spoken Japanese.
The vacation was over in the blink of an eye.
A noun meaning 'an instant' or 'a moment'. Often used with the particle で to mean 'in an instant'.
The scenery changed in the blink of an eye.
Similar to 瞬く間に, meaning 'while blinking'. Slightly more literary.
The sky darkened in the blink of an eye.
Means 'moment' or 'instant'. Often used with に to mean 'in a moment'.
He disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Emphasizing the subjective experience of time passing unnoticed.
Means 'before one knows it' or 'without noticing'. Used when something happens so quickly or subtly that you miss the transition.
Spring arrived in the blink of an eye.
Similar to いつの間にか, meaning 'without one's knowledge'. Slightly more formal or literary.
Referring to the duration itself as being as short as a blink.
The English phrase 'blink of an eye' is idiomatic. Translating it word-for-word as 目の瞬き (me no mabataki) is not natural in Japanese. Use the set phrases provided instead.
Both mean 'in the blink of an eye', but あっという間に is more colloquial and often used in casual speech. 瞬く間に is slightly more formal and can be used in writing. Both are very common.
The rain stopped in the blink of an eye.
Everything changed in the blink of an eye.