急に

• Reading: きゅうに
• Romaji: kyuuni
• Kanji breakdown: 急 (kyuu) — sudden, urgent
• Pronunciation: /kjɯː.ni/

Meaning

Suddenly; abruptly; all at once. Describes an unexpected, rapid change or event.

One of the most common adverbs in daily Japanese, formed from the na-adjective 急 (kyuu, sudden) plus the adverbial particle に. Modifies verbs to indicate that something happened without warning. Often appears at the start of sentences for dramatic effect: 急に雨が降ってきた (It suddenly started raining).

Examples

1. 急に雨が降ってきたので傘を買った。 It suddenly started raining, so I bought an umbrella.
2. 彼は急に黙り込んでしまった。 He suddenly went silent.
3. 急に予定が変わって困っている。 My plans changed out of nowhere and now I'm in a bind.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, narrative, weather

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From the kanji 急 (kyuu, urgent/sudden), which depicts a person reaching out to grasp something — an action driven by urgency. Combined with に to form an adverb.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal