How to say "suddenly" in Japanese

• ふとJLPT N3approx.Common
  adverbFor the quiet, unplanned sense of 'suddenly': a thought or memory that comes to you by chance, or you casually notice something. It suggests no deliberate intent behind the moment.
  彼かれはそれを見みるとふと魔まがさして盗ぬすんだ。↗

  The sight tempted him to steal.
• いきなりJLPT N2approx.Common
  adverb, no-adjectiveFor suddenness with no warning or lead-up: someone does or says something abruptly, skipping any introduction, and the effect on others is surprise. Think of a person who starts discussing something without preamble.
  そのタクシーはいきなり左ひだりに曲まがった。↗

  The taxi abruptly turned left.
• パッとCommon
  adverbThe onomatopoeic choice for a swift, snappy action or appearance: someone stands up in a flash, or something comes into view at once. It stresses speed and crispness more than surprise.
  レース中ちゅうにその車くるまはぱっと燃え上もえあがった。↗

  The car burned up in the race.
• 突如とつじょJLPT N1approx.Common
  adverb (with と), taru-adjectiveFor events that happen unexpectedly, with no sign beforehand: something appears or occurs all of a sudden, catching people off guard. It suits descriptions of unforeseen occurrences.
  トムの怒いかりは突如とつじょ燃え上もえあがった。↗

  Tom's anger blazed out suddenly.
• 一躍いちやくCommon
  adverb, noun, suru verbNot a general word for 'suddenly': it means rising at once to fame, success or prominence, as when someone becomes famous overnight. Seldom the word you want unless that leap is exactly what you mean.
  彼女かのじょは一躍いちやく有名ゆうめいになった。↗

  She suddenly became famous.

Use 「ふと」 for a fleeting, unplanned thought or noticing, 「いきなり」 for abruptness without warning, 「パッと」 for a quick flash-like motion, 突如 for unexpected events, and 一躍 only for sudden rises to fame.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ふとsuddenly
• いきなりabruptly
• パッとsuddenly
• 突如とつじょsuddenly
• 一躍いちやくsuddenly (rising to fame, etc.)
• にわかにsuddenly
• 不意にふいにsuddenly
• とっさにat once
• 俄然がぜんsuddenly
• おもむろにsuddenly
• はたとsuddenly (hit)
• ついとsuddenly
• こてんsuddenly (fall asleep, fall over, die)
• がくりsuddenly (e.g. falling, weakening, etc.)
• とみにsuddenly
• ぐっとsuddenly
• ひょいとsuddenly
• 勃然ぼつぜんsuddenly
• 翻然ほんぜんsuddenly
• ガクンとsuddenly
• ぬっとsuddenly (appear, stick out, etc.)
• がばっとsuddenly
• ばっとsuddenly
• 突如としてとつじょとしてsuddenly
• ひょこっとsuddenly
• 突としてとつとしてsuddenly
• がったりsuddenly (esp. falling)
• のっとsuddenly (appear, stick out, etc.)
• にゅっとsuddenly (stick out, appear, extend, etc.)
• ひょっこりall of a sudden
• むらむらirresistibly
• ころりeasily
• あれよあれよwhile surprised
• ふいとabruptly
• ふらっとaimlessly
• ひやり(feeling a chill or shiver) suddenly
• ぽっくり(dying) suddenly
• 豁然かつぜん(open up) suddenly (of a view)
• ぴったりsuddenly (stopping)
• たちまちsuddenly
• どっとsuddenly
• さっとsuddenly (esp. wind, rain, etc.)
• 一気にいっきにsuddenly
• 急にきゅうにsuddenly
• ぽっとsuddenly (getting bright, flaring up, flashing on, etc.)
• はっとsuddenly (realize, remember, etc.)
• くるりsuddenly
• ばったりsuddenly (ending)
• ピンと(springing, straightening) up
• がたんsuddenly (fall)
• ぽっかりsuddenly
• こっくりsuddenly (dying)
• ぱったりsuddenly (ending)
• げっそりsuddenly (losing a lot of weight)
• ぱたりsuddenly
• やおらsuddenly
• ぱたんsuddenly
• ひたとsuddenly (e.g. stopping)
• ぽたりsuddenly (of drops of water)
• ほっかりsuddenly
• ぴたっとsuddenly (stopping)
• ふっとsuddenly
• やにわにsuddenly
• ころっとsuddenly
• ばたっとsuddenly (stop, come to an end, etc.)
• パタッとsuddenly (stop, come to an end, etc.)
• ぷいとabruptly
• ガラッと(changing) completely
• ぶわっ(bursting) into tears
• がらり(changing) completely
• ぷっつり(stopping) suddenly (of communications, a practice, etc.)
• ぷつん(ending) suddenly (of a call, communications, etc.)
• ぷつり(ending) suddenly (of a call, communications, etc.)
• ぷつっ(ending) suddenly (of a call, communications, etc.)