HSK 5 · VERSION 2.0#111
Comparing “hūrán” and “tūrán”
忽然 vs 突然
Comparison section · original #18 · level order #111
How it works
Both 忽然 (hūrán) and 突然 (tūrán) mean “suddenly.” However, their usage is slightly different.
突然 (tūrán) is more common and more flexible.
忽然 (hūrán) often feels a bit more literary, descriptive, or emotional.
Example sentences
天空突然暗了下来，看样子马上就要下大雨了。
The sky suddenly darkened, and it looked as if a heavy rain was about to start.
他走到门口时忽然停了下来，好像想起了什么。
When he walked to the doorway, he suddenly stopped, as if he had remembered something.
电话铃突然响了起来，我心里忽然有一种不太好的预感。
The phone suddenly rang, and I suddenly had a bad feeling.
Key point
In many cases they are interchangeable, but 忽然 (hūrán) often sounds slightly more literary or emotionally colored.