とっさ

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

instant; moment; split second

Refers to a very short moment, often used in adverbial phrases like とっさに (in an instant, reflexively) or とっさの (instantaneous, spur-of-the-moment).

See also: 咄嗟に (とっさに)

• とっさの判はん断だんでブレーキを踏ふんだ。

  I hit the brakes in a split-second decision.

• 彼かれはとっさに嘘うそをついてしまった。

  He reflexively told a lie in that instant.