Translation guide
The English adverb 'abruptly' describes an action or change that happens suddenly, unexpectedly, and often without warning or smooth transition. In Japanese, there is no single direct equivalent; instead, various adverbs, verb forms, and descriptive phrases are used depending on the nuance—whether it's a sudden stop, an unexpected change, a blunt manner of speaking, or a sharp physical movement.
Describing an action or event that happens all of a sudden, catching someone off guard.
The most common and neutral word for 'suddenly' or 'abruptly'. Used for unexpected events or actions.
彼は突然立ち上がった。
He stood up abruptly.
会議は突然終わった。
The meeting ended abruptly.
Very common in spoken Japanese. Implies a rapid, often unexpected change. Slightly more casual than 突然.
急に雨が降り出した。
It started raining abruptly.
彼女は急に怒り出した。
She abruptly got angry.
Emphasizes the lack of warning or preliminary steps. Often used when something happens out of the blue, sometimes with a nuance of rudeness or surprise.
いきなり部屋に入ってこないで。
Don't come into the room abruptly.
彼はいきなり辞職した。
He quit his job abruptly.
Literary or formal. Means 'unexpectedly' or 'all of a sudden', often with a nuance of being taken by surprise.
不意にドアが開いた。
The door opened abruptly.
Describing speech or actions that are short, rude, or lacking smoothness, often ending a conversation or interaction suddenly.
Describes a blunt, curt, or brusque manner of speaking or behaving. Often implies a lack of friendliness.
彼はぶっきらぼうに「いいえ」と言った。
He said 'no' abruptly.
店員はぶっきらぼうに答えた。
The clerk answered abruptly.
Means coldly, curtly, or dismissively. Often used when someone gives a short, unfriendly reply.
彼女は素っ気なく電話を切った。
She hung up the phone abruptly.
Literally 'to cut off one's words'. Describes ending a conversation abruptly, often mid-sentence.
彼は急に言葉を切り上げて部屋を出た。
He abruptly cut off his words and left the room.
Describing physical movement that stops or changes direction sharply and unexpectedly.
Used for sudden stops or changes in movement. Very common.
車が急に止まった。
The car stopped abruptly.
彼は急に方向を変えた。
He changed direction abruptly.
Onomatopoeic adverb describing a sudden, jerky stop or drop. Often used for vehicles or machinery.
電車ががくんと止まった。
The train stopped abruptly with a jolt.
Describes something stopping completely and suddenly, as if frozen. Often used for movement or sound.
音楽がぴたりと止んだ。
The music stopped abruptly.
Describing a landscape or graph that rises or falls sharply, without gradual transition.
Used for steep slopes or sudden changes in terrain. Also used for graphs.
道が急に下っている。
The road drops abruptly.
Describes a cliff or slope that is sheer, precipitous, rising or falling almost vertically.
切り立った崖が海に落ち込んでいる。
A sheer cliff drops abruptly into the sea.
突然 (totsuzen) is the most neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. 急に (kyuu ni) is very common in everyday speech and emphasizes the speed of the change. いきなり (ikinari) stresses the lack of warning and can carry a negative nuance of rudeness or surprise. For formal writing, 突然 is safest; for casual conversation, 急に is often more natural.
突然の訪問ですみません。
Sorry for the abrupt visit. (polite)
急に寒くなったね。
It got cold all of a sudden, huh? (casual)
いきなりそんなこと言われても困る。
I don't know what to do if you say something like that out of the blue.
When describing someone speaking abruptly (rudely), English often uses 'abruptly' as an adverb. In Japanese, it's more natural to use adjectives like ぶっきらぼう or 素っ気ない in their adverbial forms, or to describe the manner with phrases. Simply using 突然 for speech can sound like the person started speaking unexpectedly, not that they were curt.
彼のぶっきらぼうな言い方が気に障った。
His abrupt way of speaking rubbed me the wrong way.
会議は突然終わった。
The meeting ended abruptly.
彼は急に話題を変えた。
He abruptly changed the subject.
彼女は素っ気なく答えて電話を切った。
She answered abruptly and hung up.