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

ashtray attack

はないの最中さいちゅう、ボスがいきなり灰皿はいざらやつなぐった。
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 なぐったHe suddenly punched.
いきなり + Eventいきなり 警報けいほうった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. やつはいきなりナイフをいた。
    He suddenly pulled a knife.
  2. かどがったら、いきなりてきくみはちわせた。
    We turned the corner and suddenly ran right into the rival crew.
  3. しずかだったのに、いきなり銃声じゅうせいひびいた。
    It was dead quiet, and then suddenly gunfire rang out.
  4. 金庫きんこけようとしたら、いきなり警報けいほうひびいた。
    The moment we tried to open the safe, the alarm suddenly blared.
  5. くるませたとたん、人質ひとじちがいきなりあばれだした。
    As soon as we got him in the car, the hostage suddenly started freaking out.
  6. おれのビートをかせたら、かれがいきなりリリックをはじめた。
    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. 密告みっこくしゃがいきなり「すべてはなす」とさけんだ。
    The informant suddenly screamed, “I’ll tell you everything!”
  10. ローライダーでながしてたら、いきなり油圧ゆあつこわれた。
    We were cruising in the lowrider, and the hydraulics suddenly broke.

Stay dangerous

Leave a comment