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.
彼は瞬く間に問題を解決した。
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.
あっという間に休みが終わった。
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'.
一瞬で景色が変わった。
The scenery changed in the blink of an eye.
Similar to 瞬く間に, meaning 'while blinking'. Slightly more literary.
瞬くうちに空が暗くなった。
The sky darkened in the blink of an eye.
Means 'moment' or 'instant'. Often used with に to mean 'in a moment'.
彼は瞬間に姿を消した。
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.
いつの間にか春になっていた。
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.
知らぬ間に雨が止んでいた。
The rain stopped in the blink of an eye.
Referring to the duration itself as being as short as a blink.
Literally 'the time it takes to blink'. Used in more literal or descriptive contexts.
瞬きする間もなく、彼は去った。
He left in the blink of an eye.
Emphasizes 'within a single instant'. More emphatic than just 一瞬で.
一瞬のうちに全てが変わった。
Everything changed in the blink of an eye.
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.