zaau6 jin4驟然骤然
Jyutpingzaau6 jin4
Yalejaauh yìhn
Definition
Suddenly; abruptly and without warning.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
Carries a slightly more formal or literary weight compared to the everyday 突然. It is frequently used in written media or narrative speech to describe a dramatic or unexpected shift in circumstances. While interchangeable with 突然 in many contexts, it feels more descriptive of an abrupt change rather than just an unpredictable event.
Examples
The weather suddenly turned cold, remember to put on an extra layer.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use this in casual conversation where 突然 would sound much more natural. It is not typically used for minor, everyday surprises like someone walking into a room, but rather for significant changes in state or atmosphere.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
