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
頓死
とんし (tonshi)
N1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "sudden" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 急 and 頓死.
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, 頓死 (とんし (tonshi)) maps to "sudden death; instantaneous death" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents Refers to death that occurs suddenly and unexpectedly. Often used in medical or news contexts, or when describing the sudden death of animals or insects. It carries a sense of abruptness.. 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 "頓死"
その選手は試合中に心臓発作で頓死した。
The athlete died suddenly from a heart attack during the game.
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.". "頓死" represents "sudden death; instantaneous death".