How to say "abrupt" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 突然とつぜんno-adjective, na-adjective, adverbThe all-purpose word for something that happens suddenly and without warning — an abrupt ending, departure, or change of subject. When you are unsure which word 'abrupt' calls for, this is the safe choice.
- 急きゅうna-adjectiveIt shares 突然's meaning of 'sudden, unexpected' but appears chiefly as the modifier 急な or the adverb 急に rather than standing alone; think of a sudden stop or a sudden change of plans.
- 唐突とうとつna-adjective, nounFor 'abrupt' remarks, questions, or changes of topic that arrive without any lead-up and so feel jarring or disconnected. It often implies the suddenness was somehow out of place or hard to follow.
- 急激きゅうげきna-adjectiveThe word for abrupt change: a sharp, rapid, or drastic rise, fall, or shift. It describes the rate or magnitude of a change rather than whether it took you by surprise.その党は急激にのびた。↗The party gained ground rapidly.
- 不意ふいna-adjective, no-adjectiveDescribes something unforeseen that catches a person off guard — an unexpected visitor, a question out of nowhere. It stresses the surprise of the person it happens to more than 突然 does.
Use 突然 for anything sudden and unexpected, 急激 for sharp or rapid change, 唐突 for remarks or actions that jar through lack of lead-up, 不意 for what catches someone off guard, and 急 mainly as a modifier.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
