Suddenly and all at once
Core words, Stage 1chunk 45 of 55Adverbs: manner and certainty
Lets you describe abrupt changes and ones you didn't notice.
- totsuzensuddenly; out of nowhere
- ikinarisuddenly; out of the blue; right off
- itsu no ma ni kabefore I knew it; without noticing
- ikki niall at once; in one go
Mix-ups Totsuzen and ikinari overlap; ikinari is more casual and often a complaint.
totsuzen
suddenly; out of nowhere
For unexpected events and changes; more neutral and news-like than ikinari.
Totsuzen desu ga... ('sorry this is sudden, but...') opens an unexpected request.
totsuzen ame ga futte kita.
It suddenly started raining.
突然雨が降ってきた。
totsuzen ame ga futte kimashita.
It suddenly started to rain.
突然雨が降ってきました。
Written 突然 · とつぜんRank #573 in 3,030 TV dramas
ikinari
suddenly; out of the blue; right off
Casual; often a complaint that someone acted abruptly, without warning or build-up.
Also 'straight away, skipping the warm-up', as in ikinari honban, going live with no rehearsal.
ikinari okoridashita n da yo.
He suddenly got angry out of nowhere.
いきなり怒り出したんだよ。
ikinari okoridashita n desu.
He suddenly got angry.
いきなり怒り出したんです。
Written いきなりRank #723 in 3,030 TV dramas
itsu no ma ni ka
before I knew it; without noticing
For changes that slipped by unnoticed, like time passing or something going missing.
Totsuzen is a sudden event; itsu no ma ni ka is a gradual change you missed.
itsu no ma ni ka nechatta.
I fell asleep before I knew it.
いつの間にか寝ちゃった。
itsu no ma ni ka nete shimaimashita.
I dozed off without realizing.
いつの間にか寝てしまいました。
Written いつの間にか · いつのまにかRank #2200 in 3,030 TV dramas
ikki ni
all at once; in one go
For doing something without stopping, or for a sudden big change.
Ikki! alone is the drinking chant 'chug!'; ikki ni yonda is 'read it in one sitting'.
ikki ni nonjatta.
I drank it all in one go.
一気に飲んじゃった。
ikki ni nonde shimaimashita.
I drank it all at once.
一気に飲んでしまいました。
Written 一気に · いっきにRank #2886 in 3,030 TV dramas