Japanese word

突然

Pronunciation

Romajitotsuzen

Meaning

  • adverbsuddenly

Example

電話が突然鳴りました。den wa ga totsu zen na ri ma shi ta

The phone suddenly rang.

Illustration for 突然 (suddenly)

More examples

突然、雨が降りました。totsu zen ame ga fu ri ma shi ta

It suddenly rained.

先生は突然笑い出しました。sen sei wa totsu zen wara i da shi ma shi ta

The teacher suddenly burst out laughing.

Core concept

Marks an event as happening unexpectedly, with no time for preparation or warning.

Common phrases

  • 突然現れるtotsu zen arawa re ru

    suddenly appear

  • 突然始まるtotsu zen haji ma ru

    suddenly begin

  • 突然止まるtotsu zen to ma ru

    suddenly stop

Similar words

急にkyūni: Marks a change or event as happening in a short time, without a gradual process.
いきなりikinari: Marks an action or event as happening without warning or time to prepare.

Definition in Japanese

予期していなかったことが、前触れなく起こるさま。yo ki shi te i na ka tta ko to ga mae bu re na ku o ko ru sa ma

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 突然 (totsuzen, "sudden") is formed from 突 (totsu, "burst out") and 然 (zen, "so" or "in that state").

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 突然 (totsuzen) can stand directly before a verb, as in 突然来る (totsuzen kuru), to show that an action happens without warning.

Other meanings

  • suddenna-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 突然性totsuzenseisuddennessnoun

Word lists with this word