Definition

Adverb: - Unexpectedly; all of a sudden; suddenly: Used to describe an event or change that happens quickly and without any warning or prior indication.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Đang nắng, bỗng nhiên trời tối sầm. (It was sunny when, all of a sudden, the sky darkened.)
  • Bỗng nhiên trời mưa. (It started to rain suddenly.)
  • Cô ấy bỗng nhiên khóc. (She suddenly burst into tears.)

Advanced Usage

• Can be used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to emphasize the abruptness of the following action or event.
  • Bỗng nhiên, tôi nhớ ra mình đã quên chìa khóa. (Suddenly, I remembered I had forgotten my keys.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bỗng (adv): A slightly shorter, more literary form meaning "suddenly."

  • Anh ta bỗng dừng lại. (He suddenly stopped.)

• Đột nhiên (adv): A direct synonym meaning "suddenly" or "abruptly," often used interchangeably.

  • Đột nhiên anh ấy xuất hiện. (He appeared suddenly.)

Synonyms

• Suddenly: Happening quickly and without warning.
• All of a sudden: Used to emphasize the unexpected nature of an event.
• Unexpectedly: In a way that was not anticipated or foreseen.
• Abruptly: In a sudden and unexpected way.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Bỗng dưng: A very close synonym to "bỗng nhiên," meaning "for no apparent reason" or "all of a sudden."
  • Bỗng dưng anh ấy tức giận. (He got angry for no apparent reason.)

adv

1. Unexpectedly, all of a sudden
   • đang nắng, bỗng nhiên trời tối sầm
     it was shining when all of a sudden the sky darkened