顿时

• Pinyin: dùn shí
• Hanzi breakdown: 顿 = 屯 (gather, phonetic) + 页 (head/nod) — a decisive nod or pause marking a moment; 时 = 日 (sun) + 寺 (temple, phonetic) — time as marked by the sun

Meaning

All at once; suddenly and immediately. Describes an abrupt change of state or atmosphere that happens in an instant.

顿时 emphasises the instantaneous, sweeping nature of a change — the whole situation transforms in a moment. It often marks an emotional, sensory, or atmospheric shift: 顿时沉默 (fell instantly silent), 顿时明白 (understood all at once), 场面顿时热闹起来 (the scene immediately became lively). More literary than 突然 and implies a totality of transformation rather than mere suddenness.

Examples

1. 消息传来，整个会场顿时陷入一片沉默，众人面面相觑，难以置信。 When the news came in, the whole hall fell silent at once; people looked at each other in disbelief.
2. 他的一番话顿时化解了会议室里剑拔弩张的紧张气氛，大家都笑了起来。 His words immediately defused the tense, standoffish atmosphere in the conference room, and everyone started laughing.
3. 夕阳西沉，漫天霞光顿时将古老的城墙染成一片金红，美不胜收。 As the sun set, the sky’s rosy glow instantly dyed the ancient city walls a golden red—stunning beyond words.

Usage Guide

Context: narrative, description, journalism, literature

Tone: vivid

Do Say

• 运动员冲过终点线的瞬间，看台上的观众顿时爆发出震耳欲聋的欢呼声，经久不息。(The instant the athlete crossed the finish line, the spectators in the stands instantly erupted in deafening cheers that went on and on.)
• 谜底揭晓的那一刻，他顿时恍然大悟，所有的疑惑在一瞬间烟消云散。(The moment the answer was revealed, he understood everything at once, and all his doubts dissolved in an instant.)

Don't Say

• 他顿时很高兴 — 顿时 marks an instantaneous atmosphere shift, not a static emotional state; say 他顿时喜出望外 or 他一下子高兴起来

Origin & History

顿 (to pause/stamp — indicating a moment) + 时 (time/moment) — at that very moment

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal