Definition
顷刻 is a formal literary conjunction meaning 'in an instant' or 'in a very short time'. It's used in written Chinese — news, literature, formal speech — to emphasize that something happens extremely quickly, often with dramatic effect. Unlike the more conversational 马上 or 立刻, 顷刻 carries a sense of abruptness and is rarely used in everyday spoken language.
conj.
(literary conjunction) in an instantin a moment
Examples
- 顷刻，。qǐng kè zhī jiān, tiān jiù hēi le.In an instant, the sky turned dark.
- 顷刻。Dàhuǒ qǐng kè jiāng zhěng dòng lóu tūnshì.The fire engulfed the entire building in an instant.
- 顷刻。Tā de xīnqíng qǐng kè biàn de chénzhòng qǐlái.His mood became heavy in an instant.
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