いきなり
🃏 Flashcard
いきなり
ikinari
Tap to reveal usage
abruptly; suddenly; all of a sudden
N2
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N2
Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage
Reading
ikinari
Post ID
51027
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
abruptly; suddenly; all of a sudden
📖 How to use it
Describes an action or event that happens abruptly, without warning or preparation.
Attaches to
Used as an adverb before a verb or at the start of a clause. No conjugation needed; it modifies the following verb or sentence.
いきなり is a vivid adverb meaning something happens suddenly, often with a sense of shock or unpreparedness. It is commonly used in conversation to describe unexpected actions or events. Unlike 突然 (とつぜん), which can be neutral, いきなり often implies the speaker felt it was abrupt or even rude. For example, if someone asks a personal question without any small talk, you might say いきなり聞かれた. It can also describe physical actions like a sudden stop or a sudden appearance. It is not as formal as 突然, and it fits well in casual or semi-formal speech.
電車が急に止まって、いきなり後ろに倒れそうになった。
Densha ga kyuu ni tomatte, ikinari ushiro ni taoresou ni natta.
The train stopped suddenly, and I almost fell backward.
彼女はいきなり泣き出して、みんなびっくりした。
Kanojo wa ikinari nakidashite, minna bikkuri shita.
She suddenly burst into tears, and everyone was surprised.
いきなりそんなこと言われても、困りますよ。
Ikinari sonna koto iwarete mo, komarimasu yo.
Even if you say something like that to me out of nowhere, I'll be troubled.
Not 突然 (とつぜん)
突然 is neutral and can be used in formal writing, while いきなり is more colloquial and often implies a sense of unexpectedness that is jarring or rude.
Register
Spoken, casual to semi-formal; not used in formal writing.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
いきなり
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat いきなり three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using いきなり. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N2 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern いきなり mean?
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Abruptly; suddenly; all of a sudden
What JLPT level is いきなり?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use いきなり in a sentence?
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Attach いきなり (ikinari) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is いきなり formal or casual Japanese?
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いきなり is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember いきなり long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.