Japanese Conversation · Level 43
90 words
Japanese word
ふと
Pronunciation
Romajifuto
Meaning
- adverbsuddenly
Example
ふと昔の友達を思い出しました。fu to mukashi no tomo dachi o omo i da shi ma shi ta
I suddenly remembered an old friend.
More examples
その話を聞いて、ふと大事なことに気づきました。so no hanashi o ki i te fu to dai ji na ko to ni ki zu ki ma shi ta
While listening to the story, I suddenly noticed something important.
Core concept
Marks an unplanned moment when a thought, feeling, or action arises without warning.
Common phrases
ふと思うfu to omo u
suddenly think
ふと思い出すfu to omo i da su
suddenly remember
ふと気づくfu to ki zu ku
suddenly notice
Similar words
急にkyūni: It describes a change or action that starts without warning and may feel abrupt.
突然totsuzen: It describes an event that begins unexpectedly and often feels abrupt.
思わずomowazu: It describes an action or reaction that occurs without conscious intention.
Definition in Japanese
思いがけず、突然に。omo i ga ke zu totsu zen ni
Word origin
The word ふと (futo) is an old native Japanese adverb, but its precise origin is uncertain.
Usage tips
- English suddenly can suggest a sharp or dramatic change, while ふと (futo) often describes a quiet moment of noticing or remembering in everyday conversation.
Other meanings
- by chanceadverb