突然
totsuzen[to̞t͡sɨzẽ̞ɴ]
The Japanese word for suddenly is 突然 (totsuzen).
突然 is used to describe something happening quickly and with little or no warning. It can function as an adverb or, by adding the particle の, as an adjective to modify nouns, such as 突然の雨 (a sudden rain).
Meaning: happening quickly and with little or no warning (adv)
Which one should you use?
While 突然 is often used for unexpected or surprising events, 急に is more common in daily conversation to describe a sudden change in pace or state. For a stronger sense of suddenness that implies surprise or shock in everyday speech, you might use いきなり. If you wish to emphasize the unexpected nature of an event in formal writing, 唐突に is a suitable choice. For a sense of a sudden surge of emotions, the onomatopoeic term ドッと can be used.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can make 突然 a formal adverbial form by adding the particle に to create 突然に. Additionally, adding the particle の turns 突然 into an adjective that can modify a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
totsuzen
Did you know?
- In traditional Japanese theater like Kabuki, a sudden, stylized pose called 'mie' is used to freeze the action and signal a moment of intense emotion or a sudden realization.
- The word 突然 is composed of two kanji: 突 meaning 'to thrust' and 然 meaning 'in that manner'. Together they literally describe the act of something thrusting forward unexpectedly.
- While 突然 is a standard word for 'suddenly', Japanese has a vast category of onomatopoeic words called 'gitaigo' to describe the specific flavor of a sudden movement, such as ガクッ for a sudden jerk of the head.
Examples in context
- 突然彼は死んだ。He died suddenly.This sentence shows how to use 突然 to describe a sudden death.Tatoeba #123282 by bunbuku, translation #280716 by edelyn90
- 突然寒くなったね！It has suddenly got cold, hasn't it?This sentence uses 突然 to describe a sudden change in weather.Tatoeba #123302 by small_snow, translation #280695 by sundown
- 物価が突然下がった。Prices dropped suddenly.This sentence uses 突然 to describe a sudden drop in prices.Tatoeba #83801 by tommy__san, translation #319915 by CK
- 彼は突然に話を変えた。He suddenly changed the topic.
- 彼女は急に泣き出した。She suddenly started crying.
- 彼の唐突な言葉に驚いた。I was surprised by his sudden words.
- 友達がいきなり現れた。My friend suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
- 喜びに胸がドッと膨らんだ。My heart swelled with sudden joy.
- 昨日、彼が突然訪ねてきた。Yesterday, he suddenly came to visit.
- 彼が突然笑い出した。He suddenly burst into laughter.
- その突然の寒さに驚いた。I was surprised by the sudden cold.
- 90 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are walking when it starts raining.
- 陽太 Yota突然雨が降り出したね。Totsuzen ame ga furidashita ne.It suddenly started raining, didn't it?
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ！傘を持っていないよ。Hontou da! Kasa o motte inai yo.You're right! I don't have an umbrella.
- 陽太 Yotaあのお店で雨宿りをしよう。Ano omise de amayadori o shiyou.Let's take shelter from the rain at that shop.
- 陽葵 Himariいい考えだね。急いで行こう。Ii kangae da ne. Isoide ikou.That's a good idea. Let's hurry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “suddenly” translations and entries 突然, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
