Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Sudden" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "sudden", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
急
きゅう (kyū)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
急転直下
きゅうてんちょっか (kyuutenchokka)
N1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "sudden" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 急 and 急転直下.
In Japanese, 急 (きゅう (kyū)) is typically associated with "sudden; urgent; steep" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents As a な-adjective.
On the other hand, 急転直下 (きゅうてんちょっか (kyuutenchokka)) maps to "a sudden turn of events, a sudden and dramatic change" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents Describes a situation where things change very suddenly and dramatically, often from good to bad or vice versa, leading directly to a conclusion.. A literal translation of "sudden" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "急"
急な坂道を上った。
I climbed a steep slope.
Bilingual Context for "急転直下"
彼の容態は急転直下、悪化した。
His condition suddenly took a turn for the worse.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: " ＿＿＿ な坂道を上った。" (Meaning: "I climbed a steep slope.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "急" fits here because it means "sudden; urgent; steep" in the context of: "I climbed a steep slope.". "急転直下" represents "a sudden turn of events, a sudden and dramatic change".