This is the 10206th most frequent Japanese word.
間髪
"間髪" (かんぱつ) means "a brief moment" or "without delay."
The phrase '間髪入れずに' conveys the meaning of acting immediately or without hesitation, showing the promptness of his response.
彼は間髪入れずに返事をした。
He replied without delay.
Here, '間髪を容れず' is used to emphasize the swiftness of the response to the enemy's actions, meaning a reaction that happens instantly.
敵が攻撃し始めたが、間髪を容れず反撃した。
The enemy started attacking, but without a moment's delay, we counterattacked.
In this sentence, '間髪を容れず' underscores the urgency and immediate action taken upon hearing the news of the fire.