{{Grammar Box}} Both 突然 (tūrán) and 忽然 (hūrán) express the something happens in a very short time or is unexpected. Both can be translated as "unexpectedly" or "surprisingly," however, 突然 is a bit harsher in tone while 忽然 is a bit softer. Also, their grammatical features are subtly different, as outlined in this article. == Both 突然 and 忽然 can be used as Adverbs == 突然 and 忽然 both can put in the sentence as [[adverb]]s or [[adjective]]s, just make sure to put them before the verb or the adjective! === Before a Verb===
突然／忽然 + Verb
=== Examples ===
* 睡觉 的 时候，我 的 电话突然 响了。While I was sleeping, my phone suddenly started to ring. * 睡觉 的 时候，我 的 电话忽然 响了。While I was sleeping, my phone suddenly started to ring. * 他 说着说着突然 不 说 了。 He was talking and talking, and suddenly stopped. * 他 说着说着忽然 不 说 了。 He was talking and talking, and suddenly stopped.
=== Before an Adjective ===
突然／忽然 + Adj.
=== Examples ===
* 天 突然 暗 了。 * 天 忽然 暗 了。 * The sky suddenly got dark. * 灯 突然 不 亮 了。 * 灯 忽然 不 亮 了。 * The lights suddenly went out
=== At the Beginning of a Sentence === You can place 突然 and 忽然 at the beginning of a sentence, just make sure to add a comma after it! === Structure ===
突然／忽然，⋯⋯
=== Examples ===
* 突然，他 进来 了。 * 忽然，他 进来 了。 * Suddenly, he entered.
== 突然 can be used as an Adjective == 突然 can be used as an [[adjective]] (directly modifying [[noun]]s), while 忽然 ''cannot''. === Structure as an Adjective===
突然 + (的) + Noun
=== Examples ===
* 这 是 一 场 突然 事故，我们 都 没 想到。This was a sudden accident. None of us thought it could happen. * 你 知道 怎么 处理 这 种 突然 的 情况 吗？Do you know how to handle this kind of sudden situation?
== 突然 can be used as a complement == 突然 as an adjective can also be used as a [[complement]] (called 补语 in Chinese). 忽然 cannot be used as a complement. === Structure for verb and complement===
Subj. + Verb + 得 + 突然
=== Examples ===
* 事情 发生 得 太 突然，我们 不 知道 怎么 办。Things happened so suddenly, we didn't know what to do. * 这 场 雨 下 得 太 突然，都 淋湿 了。This rain fell so suddenly, everything got soaked.
== 突然 can be used as the predicate == Just like other adjectives, 突然 can be used as the predicate of a sentence. It is usually added with a modifier like 很, 非常, 不 etc. It can also end with 得很, 得多, 极了, etc. complements. === Structure with modifier + 突然 ===
Subj. + Modifier + 突然
=== Examples ===
* 这 个 决定 太 突然 了。This decision was too sudden. * 对 她 来说，这 次 升职 其实 不 突然。To her, this promotion wasn't actually surprising.
=== Structure with 突然 + modifier===
Subj. + 突然 + Modifier
=== Examples ===
* 离开 上海 突然 得 很。Leaving Shanghai is really surprising. * 这 次 生病 比 上 次 突然 得 多。Getting sick this time is much more surprising than the last time.
== Example of right and wrong sentences ==
== Example Dialog ==
* A: 我 正在 睡觉，忽然 电话响了，是 Amy 打 来 的。I was sleeping, when suddenly the phone rang. It was Amy. * B: 她 说 什么？What did she say? * A: 她 结婚 了。She got married. * B: 啊，这 个 消息 太突然 了。Oh, this news is really sudden.
== Sources and further reading == === Books === *[[现代汉语八百词（增订本）]] (突然 p.540) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy] *[[现代汉语虚词例释]] (忽然p.247)[http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B004323J90/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy] * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 231-2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy] *[[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]](突然 忽然p.113)[http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy] === Dictionaries === * [[现代汉语词典（第5版）]] (忽然p.574 突然p.1378) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy] [[Category:grammar comparison]] {{Basic Grammar|突然|B2|突然 vs 忽然|我的 电话 忽然 响了。 事情 发生 得 太 突然。|grammar point|ASGHKZP4}} {{Rel char|忽然}} {{Used for|Expressing time and date}} {{Used for|Describing actions}} {{Used for|Expressing attitude}} {{Used for|Referring to changes of situation}} {{Comparison|Adverbs}}