Suddenly in Chinese

Grammar Point:
In Chinese grammar, the word “suddenly” can be translated as 突然 tūrán or 忽然 hūrán. These words are often used to indicate an unexpected or abrupt change or action.

Difference

忽然 hūrán

The word 忽然 hūrán is an adverb that functions solely as an adverbial modifier in a sentence. It should not be preceded by any adverb of degree. Its main purpose is to emphasize surprise or unpredictability, and it can also convey a feeling of suddenness or catching someone off guard.

運動yùndòng完wán我wǒ忽然hūrán非常fēicháng餓è运动yùndòng完wán我wǒ忽然hūrán非常fēicháng饿è
After exercising, I suddenly became very hungry.

運動yùndòng完wán我wǒ非常fēicháng忽然hūrán餓è运动yùndòng完wán我wǒ非常fēicháng忽然hūrán饿è ❌
(No adverb comes before 忽然 hūrán)

怎麼zěnme忽然hūrán下xià大dà雨yǔ怎么zěnme忽然hūrán下xià大dà雨yǔ
How it suddenly rained heavily.

我wǒ忽然hūrán覺得juéde你nǐ很hěn可怕kěpà我wǒ忽然hūrán觉得juéde你nǐ很hěn可怕kěpà
I find you very scary in this moment (suddenly).

啊a！ 忽然hūrán想xiǎng起來qǐlái我wǒ忘wàng了le買mǎi雞蛋jīdàn啊a！ 忽然hūrán想xiǎng起来qǐlái我wǒ忘wàng了le买mǎi鸡蛋jīdàn
Oh! I just (suddenly) remembered that I forgot to buy eggs.

突然 tūrán

The word 突然 tūrán can function as both an adverb and an adjective. It means that 突然 tūrán can be used with the adverb 得 de or preceded by adverbs such as 很 hěn, 非常 fēicháng, 太 tài, etc., but not with 忽然 hūrán. This adjective implies a sudden change or action that occurs unexpectedly.

事情shìqíng發生fāshēng得de很hěn突然tūrán事情shìqíng发生fāshēng得de很hěn突然tūrán
Things happened very sudden.

事情shìqíng發生fāshēng得de很hěn忽然hūrán事情shìqíng发生fāshēng得de很hěn忽然hūrán ❌
(忽然 hūrán is not an adjective.)

公司gōngsī的de解僱jiěgù通知tōngzhī來lái得de太tài突然tūrán公司gōngsī的de解雇jiěgù通知tōngzhī来lái得de太tài突然tūrán
The notice of termination from the company came too suddenly.

她tā突然tūrán就jiù要yào跟gēn我wǒ分手fēnshǒu她tā突然tūrán就jiù要yào跟gēn我wǒ分手fēnshǒu
She suddenly wants to break up with me.

我wǒ那個nàge突然tūrán來lái了le我wǒ那个nàge突然tūrán来lái了le
My period suddenly started.

FYI
In Chinese, there are various ways to describe 月經经 yuèjīng (menstruation). A more formal term is 生理期 shēnglǐ qíqī (period), while among friends, it can be referred to as 好朋友 hǎo péngyǒuyou (good friend), 大姨媽妈 dà yímā (mother’s eldest sister), or simply saying 那個个 nàge (that) followed by 來来了 lái le (coming). It’s worth mentioning that in Taiwan, it is not considered inappropriate to tell male colleagues about one’s menstruation. Most Taiwanese people think menstruation as a normal phenomenon, similar to having a headache, and not something to be shy about. So, if your colleague asks why you look unwell, you can honestly respond that you’re experiencing discomfort due to your period. Some colleagues or friends may even offer you painkillers or hot chocolate to help alleviate your discomfort.

我wǒ突然tūrán想xiǎng到dào我wǒ明天míngtiān有yǒu事shì， 不bù能néng跟gēn你nǐ吃飯chīfàn我wǒ突然tūrán想xiǎng到dào我wǒ明天míngtiān有yǒu事shì， 不bù能néng跟gēn你nǐ吃饭chīfàn
I just (suddenly) realized that I have an appointment tomorrow and can’t have dinner with you.

Practice

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✔️ Suddenly, he gets angry.

他tā突然tūrán/ 忽然hūrán生氣shēngqì了le他tā突然tūrán/ 忽然hūrán生气shēngqì了le

✔️ The snowfall was very sudden.

雪xuě下xià得de很hěn突然tūrán雪xuě下xià得de很hěn突然tūrán

✔️ I just (suddenly) realized it.

我wǒ突然tūrán/ 忽然hūrán懂dǒng了le我wǒ突然tūrán/ 忽然hūrán懂dǒng了le

• All different 然 rán in Chinese