heartbeat
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heartbeat
The rhythmic contraction of the heart muscle, which pumps blood through the body and can be felt as a pulse.
Nach dem Sprint konnte ich meinen schnellen Herzschlag in der Brust spüren.
After the sprint, I could feel my fast heartbeat in my chest.
The word is a compound of 'das Herz' (the heart) and 'der Schlag' (the beat/strike). It literally describes the beat or pounding of the heart.
Der Arzt hörte mit dem Stethoskop den Herzschlag des Patienten ab.
The doctor listened to the patient's heartbeat with the stethoscope.
'Herzschlag' (heartbeat) is often combined with the verbs 'fühlen' (to feel), 'spüren' (to sense/feel), or 'hören' (to hear). Typical adjectives that describe it are 'schnell' (fast), 'langsam' (slow), 'regelmäßig' (regular), or 'unregelmäßig' (irregular).
Vor Aufregung spürte sie ihren schnellen Herzschlag.
Because of the excitement, she could feel her fast heartbeat.
In the figurative meaning 'kurzer Moment' (brief moment), the word is used almost exclusively in the fixed expressions 'innerhalb eines Herzschlags' (within a heartbeat) or 'in einem Herzschlag' (in a heartbeat).
Die Ampel schaltete innerhalb eines Herzschlags von Grün auf Rot.
The traffic light changed from green to red within a heartbeat.
moment
'der Moment' and 'der Herzschlag' can both mean a very short period of time. 'der Moment' is the normal word for a brief instant or a specific point in time. 'der Herzschlag' is actually connected to the body, but figuratively it can mean an extremely brief instant. This figurative use sounds more vivid and a little more literary. In everyday language, 'Moment' is usually more natural. 'Herzschlag' is more appropriate when you want to express the brevity or tension especially strongly.
Für einen Herzschlag lang war im Raum alles still.
For a heartbeat, everything in the room was silent.
Einen Moment bitte, ich suche schnell die Rechnung.
One moment, please; I'm quickly looking for the receipt.