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March 24, 2026
突然tūrán(tu1ran2)
突然 (tūrán) means 'sudden' or 'abrupt,' often referring to an unexpected change or occurrence. It is commonly used to describe events that happen unexpectedly, such as a sudden rainstorm or an abrupt change in someone's mood.
Frequency#726DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, sudden events can often be seen as signs or omens. For example, a sudden change in weather might be interpreted as a reflection of changing fortunes or moods.
Memory Tip
Think of '突然' as 'too ran'—imagine someone running too fast and suddenly tripping over something unexpected. The character 突 (tū) suggests a sudden impact, while 然 (rán) indicates the state of being, combining to emphasize the abruptness of the situation.
Meanings of 突然
tūrán(tu1ran2)
1sudden
2abrupt
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About 突然
突然Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#726Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 突然
Podcast: 突然
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AI Study Notes for 突然
Quick Contrast
突然 (tūrán) vs 猛然 (měngrán) — use 突然 for unexpected occurrences, while 猛然 emphasizes a sudden, forceful action.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of '突然' as 'too ran'—imagine someone running too fast and suddenly tripping over something unexpected. The character 突 (tū) suggests a sudden impact, while 然 (rán) indicates the state of being, combining to emphasize the abruptness of the situation.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 突然 with other similar words like 突出 (tūchū), which means 'to stand out.' This word is generally informal and should be used in conversational contexts. Remember to use the correct tones: 突 (tū) with a high level tone and 然 (rán) with a rising tone.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK level 3 word, 突然 is key for expressing surprise or sudden changes. Students should focus on using it in sentences to describe experiences or events, connecting it to other HSK 3 words like 发生 (fāshēng, 'to happen') and 变化 (biànhuà, 'change').
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, sudden events can often be seen as signs or omens. For example, a sudden change in weather might be interpreted as a reflection of changing fortunes or moods.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misplace the tones, pronouncing it as 'turan' instead of 'tūrán.' Additionally, they might confuse it with words like 突出 (tūchū) which means 'to stand out,' leading to incorrect usage in contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 突然
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Grammar Patterns of 突然
突然 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Mullins knocked me off-balance with his abrupt change of subject.
6
这架喷气式飞机突然着火，急速坠地。
zhè jià pēn qì shì fēi jī tū rán zháo huǒ， ， jí sù zhuì。
The jet burst into flames and plummeted to the ground.
7
他突然感到腹部一阵剧烈疼痛。
tā tū rán gǎn dào fù bù yī zhèn jù liè téng tòng。
He was struck by a stabbing pain in his midriff.
8
在家剧烈运动了一阵后他突然昏倒了。
zài jiā jù liè yùn dòng le yī zhèn hòu tā tū rán hūn dǎo le。
He collapsed following a vigorous exercise session at his home.
9
这个故事的念头是他做白日梦的时候突然想到的。
zhè gè gù shì de niàn tóu shì tā zuò bái rì mèng de shí hòu tū rán xiǎng dào de。
The idea for the story came to him in a daydream.
10
他突然扑向摄影师，痛打了他一顿，还摔碎了他的照相机。
tā tū rán pū xiàng shè yǐng shī， ， tòng dǎ le tā yī， dùn ， huán shuāi suì le tā de zhào。
He pounced on the photographer, beat him up and smashed his camera.
Cultural Notes for 突然
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, sudden events can often be seen as signs or omens. For example, a sudden change in weather might be interpreted as a reflection of changing fortunes or moods.
Frequently Asked Questions about 突然
You can say '天气突然变冷了' (tiānqì tūrán biàn lěng le), meaning 'The weather suddenly became cold.'
突然 is typically used in informal contexts, making it suitable for everyday conversations.
Yes, you can say '他突然感到快乐' (tā tūrán gǎndào kuàilè), meaning 'He suddenly felt happy.'
