突如其来

• Pinyin: tū rú qí lái
• Hanzi breakdown: 突 = sudden; 如 = like; 其 = it/that; 来 = to come

Meaning

To come out of nowhere; sudden and unexpected; without warning.

An idiom describing events that occur completely without warning or preparation. Often used for surprises, both good (突如其来的惊喜) and bad (突如其来的灾难).

Examples

1. 这场突如其来的疫情打乱了所有人的计划。 This sudden pandemic disrupted everyone's plans.
2. 突如其来的表白让她不知所措。 The unexpected confession left her at a loss.
3. 老板突如其来的辞退通知让他措手不及。 The boss's sudden termination notice caught him completely off guard.

Usage Guide

Context: unexpected events, surprises, emergencies

Tone: dramatic

Do Say

• 突如其来的变故。(Sudden unexpected change.)
• 突如其来的惊喜。(Unexpected surprise.)

Don't Say

• 把有预兆的事叫'突如其来' (突如其来 means genuinely no warning — events with signs leading up aren't 突如其来)

Origin & History

突 means sudden, 如 means like, 其 is a pronoun, 来 means to come — coming as suddenly as that.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal