Translation guide
Describes something happening unexpectedly, quickly, and without warning. Japanese uses various adverbs and phrases depending on the nuance: suddenness, abruptness, or out of nowhere.
To express that an action or event occurs abruptly and unexpectedly.
The most common and neutral word for 'suddenly'. Works in both spoken and written Japanese.
突然、雨が降り出した。
All of a sudden, it started raining.
彼は突然部屋を出て行った。
He suddenly left the room.
Very common in casual speech. Emphasizes the quickness or abruptness of the change.
急にお腹が痛くなった。
All of a sudden, my stomach started hurting.
彼は急に怒り出した。
He suddenly got angry.
Implies something happening without any prior notice or preamble, often with a nuance of rudeness or surprise. Common in casual contexts.
いきなりそんなこと言われても困る。
It's troubling if you say something like that all of a sudden.
彼はいきなり歌い始めた。
He suddenly started singing out of nowhere.
Literary or formal. Emphasizes unexpectedness, often used in written narratives.
不意にドアが開いた。
All of a sudden, the door opened.
To emphasize that something happened spontaneously or from an unknown source.
Literally 'from nowhere'. Used when something appears or happens without a clear origin.
どこからともなく猫が現れた。
All of a sudden, a cat appeared out of nowhere.
Literary word meaning 'suddenly and mysteriously', often for disappearances or appearances.
彼は忽然と姿を消した。
He vanished all of a sudden.
To describe a change that is jarring or lacks a smooth transition.
Emphasizes abruptness and lack of context, often used for speech or actions that feel out of place.
彼は唐突に話題を変えた。
He changed the subject all of a sudden.
突然 (totsuzen) is the safest, most neutral choice. 急に (kyuu ni) is slightly more casual and emphasizes speed. いきなり (ikinari) implies a lack of warning and can carry a negative nuance of rudeness or surprise. Use いきなり when someone does something without asking or when an event is completely out of the blue in a personal context.
突然の訪問ですみません。
Sorry for the sudden visit. (polite, neutral)
急に寒くなったね。
It got cold all of a sudden, huh? (casual, about quick change)
いきなり抱きつかないでよ！
Don't hug me all of a sudden! (rude/surprising action)