いきなり

adverb

suddenly, abruptly, out of the blue

informaldescriptive

1. suddenly, abruptly, without warning

Describes something happening unexpectedly and without preparation or build-up.

いきなり来(き)ないでよ。

Don't just show up out of nowhere.

いきなり雨(あめ)が降(ふ)ってきた。

It suddenly started raining.

いきなり怒(おこ)り出(だ)してびっくりした。

I was surprised when they suddenly got angry.

いきなり難(むずか)しいことを言(い)われても困(こま)る。

I'm stumped when you suddenly ask something difficult.

いきなり emphasizes the unexpected, abrupt nature of an action or event. It often implies that something happened without the usual preparation, warning, or gradual lead-up.

Common collocations

いきなり来(く)る: to show up suddenly
いきなり始(はじ)まる: to start abruptly
いきなり言(い)う: to say out of nowhere

Similar expressions

突然(とつぜん): suddenly (more neutral/formal)
急(きゅう)に: suddenly (emphasizes speed)
だしぬけに: unexpectedly, out of the blue

Related Words

Synonym: 突然(とつぜん) (suddenly (neutral register))

Compare: 突然(とつぜん)に (suddenly)

Compare: にわかに (suddenly)

general

Added 2026.2.1 17:23 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

09000/09379_ikinari