刹那

From Middle Chinese 剎那 (MC t͡ʃʰˠat̚ nɑ), a transliteration of Sanskrit क्षण (kṣaṇa).[1][2]

Originally a Buddhist term meaning the smallest possible moment in time: a split-second. Carries favorable connotations of "precious" from the Buddhist teaching that one should live well even in the shortest moment of time.

This reading is now archaic and is falling into disuse.

• On’yomi: Goon
  • IPA^(key): [se̞t͡ɕina̠]

刹那 (hiragana せちな, rōmaji sechina)

1. see setsuna below

/setina/ → /setuna/

Shift in pronunciation from sechina above, using the kan'yōon of setsu for the first kanji.[1]

This reading is now the most common.

• On’yomi
  • (Tokyo) せ​つな [séꜜtsùnà] (Atamadaka – [1])[2]
  • IPA^(key): [se̞t͡sɨᵝna̠]

刹那 (hiragana せつな, rōmaji setsuna)

1. an instant, a moment
2. (Buddhism) the smallest unit of time, of varying lengths depending on tradition:
   1. roughly 0.11 seconds, defined as 1/65^th of a 弾指 (danshi), where a danshi is 1/12,000^th of a day or 7.2 seconds
   2. 0.002 seconds, defined as 1/60^th of a 念 (nen), where a nen is 1/60^th of a 弾指 (danshi)
   3. 1/75^th of a second, defined as 1/6,480,000^th of a day
3. (mathematics) by extension from the instant meaning, an extremely small number: 10^-18, atto-

刹那 (hiragana せつな, rōmaji Setsuna)

1. A female given name