急きゅうに

きゅ

う

に

Meanings

Most often describes something happening suddenly or unexpectedly. In some contexts it can also mean doing something quickly or hastily because the situation is urgent or at short notice.

空そらが急きゅうに暗くらくなった。
The sky suddenly grew dark.
急きゅうに作つくった資し料りょうなので、誤ご字じがあるかもしれません。
These materials were made in a hurry, so there may be typos.

adverb

steeply; sharply

Used for a slope, descent, curve, bend, or similar physical change becoming steep or sharp.

ここから坂さかが急きゅうに下くだっているので、足あし元もとに気きをつけてください。
The slope descends steeply from here, so please watch your step.
道みちは橋はしの手て前まえで急きゅうに右みぎへ曲まがっている。
The road bends sharply to the right before the bridge.

Usage patterns

急きゅうに〈動どう詞し〉to suddenly [verb]
赤あかちゃんが急きゅうに泣なき出だした。
The baby suddenly started crying.
道みちが急きゅうに曲まがるfor a road to bend sharply
この先さきで道みちが急きゅうに曲まがっているので気きをつけてください。
The road curves sharply ahead, so please be careful.
急きゅうに〈事こと〉が起おこるfor [something] to happen suddenly
駅えきの前まえで急きゅうに事じ故こが起おこった。
An accident suddenly happened in front of the station.
体たい調ちょうが急きゅうに悪わるくなるfor one's condition to suddenly worsen
旅りょ行こう中ちゅうに体たい調ちょうが急きゅうに悪わるくなった。
My condition suddenly worsened during the trip.
急きゅうに予よ定ていを変かえるto change one's plans suddenly/on short notice
上じょう司しの指し示じで急きゅうに予よ定ていを変かえることになった。
We had to change our plans suddenly because of the boss's instructions.

Expressions

急きゅうに言いわれても(not possible) on such short notice

Kanji

急hurry, emergency, sudden

Related words· 14

突とつ然ぜんN3sense 1
突然 emphasizes an unexpected, often startling occurrence, while 急に can also describe an action taken hastily due to sudden circumstances.
いきなりN3sense 1
いきなり is a casual word stressing that something happened all at once with no warning, whereas 急に is neutral and usable in both casual and formal contexts.
急きゅう遽きょN1sense 1
急遽 is a more formal word for doing something hastily on short notice, while 急に is the everyday word covering both sudden change and hasty action.
急いそいで sense 1
急いで describes the hurried manner of doing an action, while 急に more often describes a sudden change or something forced by unexpected circumstances.

Show 10 more

ばったりN3
急に is a plain, general word for 'suddenly', while ばったり adds the nuance of something stopping or ending all at once, like a conversation or contact.
がくんとN1
急に is a general, neutral word for 'suddenly', while がくんと adds a mimetic sense of a sharp jerk or abrupt drop.
一いっ気きにN2
急に focuses on the suddenness of a change with no build-up, while 一気に in this sense also implies the change happens rapidly and completely.
ぱっとN1
急に is a neutral, general word for 'suddenly' usable in formal contexts, while ぱっと is colloquial and onomatopoeic, often implying a visual or instantaneous change.
さっとN2
さっと emphasizes the brief, fleeting nature of a sudden event, while 急に is a broader word for any unexpected change.
不ふ意いにN1
急に emphasizes the speed of a sudden change, while 不意に emphasizes the element of surprise and lack of preparation.
たちまちN2
急に stresses the unexpectedness of a sudden change, while たちまち can describe swiftness that isn't necessarily surprising.
にわかにN2
急に is a very common, casual word for something happening quickly or suddenly, whereas 俄かに is rarer and implies an abrupt change with no prior sign.
一いち躍やくN1
急に is a general word for any abrupt change, whereas 一躍 is reserved for a dramatic rise in position, fame, or recognition.
俄が然ぜんN1
急に is the common, casual way to say 'suddenly', whereas 俄然 is rarer and more emphatic, often highlighting a surprising or noticeable change.

Opposites· 10

徐じょ々じょN3
徐々 describes a slow, step-by-step progression, while 急に describes something happening suddenly and without warning.
徐じょ々じょにN3
急に describes a sudden, abrupt change, the opposite of the slow, step-by-step change described by 徐々に.
次し第だいにN2
急に describes a sudden, abrupt change, while 次第に describes a slow, gradual one.

Show 7 more

ジワジワ
急に describes a sudden, abrupt change, the opposite of the slow, steady progression described by ジワジワ.
着ちゃく々ちゃくN2
急に describes something happening suddenly and without warning, the opposite of 着々's slow, steady advancement.
漸ぜん次じ
急に describes a sudden, abrupt change, the opposite of 漸次's slow, incremental change.
だんだんN5
だんだん describes a slow, gradual change, while 急に describes a sudden, abrupt one.
おもむろにN1
急に means 'suddenly, abruptly', the direct opposite of 徐に (おもむろに) in its original sense of moving slowly and calmly.
じわりN1
急に describes a sudden, abrupt change, the opposite of じわり's slow, imperceptible progression.
そろそろN4
急に describes something happening suddenly and abruptly, the opposite of そろそろ's gradual, quiet manner.

Don't confuse with

急いそぎ
急に means 'suddenly' and describes an unexpected change, while 急ぎ means 'in a hurry' and describes doing something quickly on purpose.

Etymology

Formed from 急, associated with urgency, suddenness, and steepness, plus the adverbial particle に. This is a grammatical formation rather than a separate loanword.