1.
to suddenly remember; to recall out of the blue
To have a memory come to mind unexpectedly, without deliberately trying to recall it.
Combines the adverb ふと (suddenly, unexpectedly) with 思い出す (to remember). The key nuance is that the memory surfaces involuntarily — triggered by a sensation, a scene, or seemingly nothing at all. Very common in everyday conversation and narrative writing.
Common collocations
- ふと昔を思い出す: to suddenly recall the past
- ふと母のことを思い出す: to suddenly think of one's mother
- ふと思い出したように: as if suddenly remembering
Usage
ふと can also combine with other verbs to express sudden, unplanned actions: