How to use いきなり (ikinari): A Streetwise JLPT N2 Grammar Guide

ashtray attack

話はなし合あいの最中さいちゅう、ボスがいきなり灰皿はいざらで奴やつを殴なぐった。
In the middle of the talk, the boss suddenly hit him with an ashtray.

Category: ,


Read the explanation below to understand the nuance of how this grammar structure is used.

This is when shit hits the fan out of nowhere. No warning, no build-up. It’s abrupt, it’s sudden, and it usually means trouble.

Metaphor: This is a jump scare. You’re just walking, and BAM! A gun goes off. You’re talking, and BAM! You get punched. That BAM! is ikinari.


Grammar Conjugation Guide.

Read the table below then use it to conjugate some words you know.

This one’s easy. It’s an adverb, so it doesn’t change.

FormulaExampleTranslation
いきなり + Verbいきなり 殴なぐったHe suddenly punched.
いきなり + Eventいきなり 警報けいほうが鳴なったSuddenly, the alarm rang.

You just drop いきなり in the sentence, usually right before the action that happened. It describes how it happened: abruptly.


Example sentences with audio.

Read the examples to figure out how the grammar works.

This is what happens when the plan goes to hell.

  1. 奴やつはいきなりナイフを抜ぬいた。
    He suddenly pulled a knife.
  2. 角かどを曲まがったら、いきなり敵てきの組くみと鉢はち合あわせた。
    We turned the corner and suddenly ran right into the rival crew.
  3. 静しずかだったのに、いきなり銃声じゅうせいが響ひびいた。
    It was dead quiet, and then suddenly gunfire rang out.
  4. 金庫きんこを開あけようとしたら、いきなり警報けいほうが鳴なり響ひびいた。
    The moment we tried to open the safe, the alarm suddenly blared.
  5. 車くるまに乗のせたとたん、人質ひとじちがいきなり暴あばれだした。
    As soon as we got him in the car, the hostage suddenly started freaking out.
  6. 俺おれのビートを聴きかせたら、彼かれがいきなりリリックを書かき始はじめた。
    When I played my beat, he suddenly started writing lyrics.
  7. バーベキューの最中さいちゅう、いきなり警察けいさつが踏ふみ込こんできた。
    In the middle of the neighborhood barbecue, the cops suddenly raided us.
  8. あの新入しんいりは、いきなりアニキに殴なぐりかかった。
    That new recruit suddenly took a swing at the big bro.
  9. 密告みっこく者しゃがいきなり「すべて話はなす」と叫さけんだ。
    The informant suddenly screamed, “I’ll tell you everything!”
  10. ローライダーで流ながしてたら、いきなり油圧ゆあつが壊こわれた。
    We were cruising in the lowrider, and the hydraulics suddenly broke.

Stay dangerous

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