Translation guide
The English word 'flash' covers a wide range of meanings, from a sudden burst of light to a very short moment, to showing something quickly. Japanese uses different words and expressions depending on the specific meaning.
A brief, intense emission of light, such as from a camera, lightning, or an explosion.
Loanword from English, commonly used for camera flash or a sudden bright light.
カメラのフラッシュが眩しかった。
The camera flash was dazzling.
A flash of light, often used in more formal or descriptive contexts, like lightning or explosions.
閃光が走った。
A flash of light streaked across the sky.
Onomatopoeia for a quick flash of light, often used in manga or casual speech.
ピカッと光った。
It flashed brightly.
An extremely brief period of time; an instant.
Means 'an instant' or 'a moment'. Used in phrases like 'in a flash'.
一瞬で消えた。
It disappeared in a flash.
一瞬の出来事だった。
It happened in a flash.
To display something for a very short time, like a card or a screen.
To show something briefly or flash something, often casually.
彼はカードをちらっと見せた。
He flashed his card.
To flash or brandish something, often with a sense of waving it quickly.
刀をひらめかせた。
He flashed his sword.
A sudden clever thought or realization.
A flash of inspiration or a sudden idea. Often used as a noun.
いいアイデアがひらめいた。
A good idea flashed into my mind.
To have a sudden realization or to click; often used when something dawns on you.
その時、ピンときた。
Then it flashed on me.
Referring to flash memory or flash drives.
The standard term for flash memory.
このUSBはフラッシュメモリです。
This USB is a flash memory.
A brief news announcement, often breaking news.
Breaking news or news flash.
ニュース速報が入りました。
We have a news flash.
The English word 'flash' is very broad. Using フラッシュ for everything will sound unnatural. Choose the Japanese expression that matches the specific meaning you want to convey.
Literally 'the time it takes to say ah', meaning 'in the blink of an eye' or 'before you know it'.
あっという間に終わった。
It was over in a flash.