刹那
Traditional: 剎那
chà nà HSK 6

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

闪电在刹那照亮天空。
Shǎndiàn zài chànà zhàoliàng tiānkōng.
Lightning illuminated the sky in an instant.
机会只在刹那出现。
Jīhuì zhǐ zài chànà chūxiàn.
Opportunities appear only in a split second.
那一刹那,他改变了主意。
Nà yī chànà, tā gǎibiàn le zhǔyì.
In that instant, he changed his mind.
那一刹那很美好。
Nà yī chànà hěn měihǎo.
That moment was beautiful.
时间只有一刹那。
Shíjiān zhǐ yǒu yī chànà.
Time is just an instant.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of '刹那' as 'cha-na' – imagine a camera's 'click' in a 'snap' (na) to capture a fleeting moment. The Buddhist origin can also help: it's like a flash of insight that lasts only a 'split second.'

📝 Usage Notes

This word is used in both written and spoken Chinese, but it leans slightly formal or literary. It is common in descriptive, poetic, or reflective contexts to emphasize the brevity of a moment, such as in narratives, essays, or emotional expressions.

📖 Grammar Points

Often used with 一 (yī) as '一刹那' to mean 'in an instant.' It can function as a time adverbial, e.g., '刹那间,灯灭了' (In an instant, the light went out). It is typically placed at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence to modify actions.

🏯 Cultural Notes

The word has roots in Buddhism, where it denotes the shortest measurable time, symbolizing impermanence and the transient nature of existence. This cultural background adds a philosophical or reflective nuance when used in modern contexts.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar to 瞬间 (shùnjiān), which also means 'instant,' but 刹那 often feels more literary and emphasizes an even shorter, more fleeting moment. 片刻 (piànkè) means 'a short while' and implies a slightly longer duration than 刹那.

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