Chinese word

猛然

Pronunciation

Pinyinměng rán

Meaning

  • adverbsuddenly

Example

车猛然停住了。chē měng rán tíng zhù le

The car suddenly stopped.

Illustration for 猛然 (suddenly)

More examples

听到声音，他猛然抬头。tīng dào shēng yīn tā měng rán tái tóu

Hearing a sound, he suddenly looked up.

Core concept

A powerful motion breaks into the scene without warning.

Common phrases

  • 猛然爆发měng rán bào fā

    suddenly erupt

  • 猛然抬头měng rán tái tóu

    suddenly look up

  • 猛然失声měng rán shī shēng

    suddenly lose one's voice

Similar words

突然tū rán: Marks something that happens unexpectedly and without warning.
忽然hū rán: Marks an unexpected event in a literary or formal style.
顿时dùn shí: Shows a new state or result appearing immediately after an event.
一下子yí xià zi: Shows a quick action or change happening within a short time in everyday speech.

Definition in Chinese

表示事情在极短时间内发生且带有猛烈或剧烈的意味，用来强调突发的力量或冲击。biǎo shì shì qíng zài jí duǎn shí jiān nèi fā shēng qiě dài yǒu měng liè huò jù liè de yì wèi yòng lái qiáng diào tū fā de lì liàng huò chōng jī

Word origin

猛 (měng, "fierce") + 然 (rán, "in that way") forms an adverb describing an action carried out with fierce force, giving the word its abrupt, forceful effect.

Usage tips

  • This expression is more common in written narration, news, and formal description than in relaxed conversation, where it can sound literary or dramatic.

Opposites

Related words

  • 猛地měng dìsuddenlyadverb

Word lists with this word