突然
HSK 5- Time
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The adverb 突然 expresses that something happens suddenly, unexpectedly, and within a short time.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The adverb 突然 (sudden/suddenly) describes an action or state that occurs very quickly and unexpectedly. It typically appears before a verb.
In addition, 突然 can also function as an adjective meaning "abrupt/sudden," commonly used in the structure (subject) + 很/太 + 突然. This is the key difference from 忽然, as 忽然 can only function as an adverb.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 天气突然变冷了。繁: 天氣突然變冷了。Tiānqì tūrán biàn lěng le.
The weather suddenly turned cold.
- 他突然出现在我面前。繁: 他突然出現在我面前。Tā tūrán chūxiàn zài wǒ miànqián.
He suddenly appeared before me.
- 我突然想起来一件事。繁: 我突然想起來一件事。Wǒ tūrán xiǎng qǐlái yí jiàn shì.
I suddenly remembered something.
- 上课时，他突然站了起来。繁: 上課時，他突然站了起來。Shàngkè shí, tā tūrán zhàn le qǐlái.
During class, he suddenly stood up.
- 这个消息太突然了。繁: 這個消息太突然了。Zhège xiāoxi tài tūrán le.
This news is too sudden.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他哭突然了。Correct:他突然哭了。
突然 is an adverb and must come before the verb it modifies, not after.
- Wrong:这件事很忽然。Correct:这件事很突然。
Only 突然 can function as an adjective (sudden). 忽然 can only function as an adverb (suddenly).