いきなり

• Reading: いきなり
• Romaji: ikinari
• Kanji breakdown: 行 (i/iki) — go; 成 (nari) — become (kanji form 行き成り is rarely used)
• Pronunciation: /i.ki.na.ɾi/

Meaning

Abruptly; suddenly; all of a sudden; without warning. Describes an unexpected action.

An adverb describing something that happens without prior notice or preparation. Focuses on the lack of warning rather than just speed: いきなり怒り出した (suddenly got angry), いきなり話しかけられた (was spoken to out of nowhere). More colloquial than 突然 (totsuzen) and often carries a sense of being startled.

Examples

1. いきなり大きな声で呼ばれてびっくりした。 Someone suddenly called out to me in a loud voice and I was startled.
2. 彼はいきなり会社を辞めると言い出した。 He abruptly announced that he was quitting the company.
3. いきなり雨が降ってきて傘がなくて困った。 It suddenly started raining and I was stuck without an umbrella.

Usage Guide

Context: conversation, narrative, daily life

Tone: surprised

Origin & History

Written in kanji as 行き成り, from 行き (iki, going) and 成り (nari, becoming). Literally 'as one goes, it becomes' — something that happens in the course of motion without pause or preparation.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal