分秒 (fēn) — a split second; a very brief moment; an instant

Definition

分秒 is a fixed compound that literally means 'minutes and seconds', but in usage it emphasizes an extremely short duration — a split second or a fleeting moment. It often appears in the four-character idiom 分秒必争 (fēn miǎo bì zhēng, 'race against time', literally 'every minute and second must be fought for'). As a noun, it refers to very brief units of time, especially when urging urgency or precision.

a split seconda very brief momentan instant

Examples

。
Měi yì fēn dōu hěn zhēnguì.
Every split second is precious.
，。
Wǒmen fēn bì zhēng, bù néng làngfèi yì miǎo zhōng.
We must race against time and not waste a single second.
分秒。
Tā zhuā zhù le nàgè fēn de jīhuì.
He seized the opportunity of that split second.

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