Definition & Meaning

all of a sudden; unexpectedly

Word usage

hū rán

忽 然

Level:

HSK5 NHSK 2 ZW3 ZW6More

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Chinese dictionary
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adv.all of a sudden; unexpectedly
- tā zhèng yào chū qù hū rán xià qǐ le dà yǔ
  他正要出去，忽然下起了大雨。
  Just as he was going out, it suddenly started pouring.
- tā bù néng lái le yīn wèi tā hū rán shēng bìng le
  他不能来了，因为他忽然生病了。
  He could not come as he suddenly fell ill.
- tā hū rán chàng qǐ gē lái
  他忽然唱起歌来。
  He burst into song.
- hū rán tā miàn qián tíng xià yī liàng chē
  忽然，他面前停下一辆车。
  All of a sudden, a car pulled up in front of him.
- yī zhèn fēng hū rán chuī qǐ lai
  一阵风忽然吹起来。
  A wind suddenly sprang up.
synonym
tū rán突然 měng rán猛然 dǒu rán陡然 mò rán蓦然 hū de忽地 zhòu rán骤然 mò de蓦地 shū rán倏然 cù rán猝然 zhà rán乍然 dùn rán顿然 kè rán溘然
antonym
zhú bù逐步 zhú jiàn逐渐 màn màn慢慢 jiàn jiàn渐渐

Word usage

Note
"忽然" is different from "突然". 1) "忽然" emphasizes the speed of time; "突然" emphasizes unexpected events. 2) "忽然" is an adverb and can only be used as an adverbial; "突然" is an adjective, which can be used as a predicate, attributive, adverbial and complement.

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