顷刻

頃刻

qǐngkè

adverb #35,760

Meanings

1 in an instant
2 in no time
3 in a moment

Characters

moment / a brief period

quarter hour / moment

Examples

暴雨顷刻倾盆而下。

Bàoyǔ qǐngkè qīngpén ér xià.

The downpour came in an instant.

顷刻之间,人群就散了。

Qǐngkè zhī jiān, rénqún jiù sàn le.

In a moment, the crowd dispersed.

Tips

register

顷刻 is literary and slightly formal. In everyday speech you'd hear 一会儿 (yíhuìr) or 马上 (mǎshàng). 顷刻 is common in news writing, narration, and set phrases like 顷刻间 ('in the blink of an eye').

Stroke Order

顷 qǐng

刻 kè