突如其来

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: tū rú qí lái
• English Translation: To come suddenly, to occur unexpectedly, to happen abruptly
• Idiom Composition: 「突」（Suddenly）＋「如」（Like, as if）＋「其」（That）＋「来」（To come）
• Meaning: An unexpected event that occurs suddenly. It describes something happening abruptly without any warning.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「突如其来」 contains the following nuances:

• Surprise attack: Emphasizes something happening when one is unprepared and not expecting it.
• Suddenness: Indicates that the event occurs very rapidly.
• Unexpectedness: Describes an event that is surprising and unforeseen.
• Urgency: Often implies a situation that requires immediate attention or response.

3. Usage

「突如其来」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing situations: Used to describe situations where unexpected events occur suddenly.
  • Example:「突如其来的暴雨让整个城市措手不及。」
    （The sudden heavy rain caught the entire city off guard.）
• Explaining actions: Used to explain actions triggered by unexpected events.
  • Example:「他突如其来地宣布辞职，让所有人都感到意外。」
    （He suddenly announced his resignation, surprising everyone.）
• Expressing emotions: Used to express emotions such as surprise or confusion caused by unexpected events.
  • Example:「突如其来的消息让她一时无法接受。」
    （The sudden news left her unable to accept it for a while.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这场疫情突如其来，打乱了所有人的计划。
   （This epidemic occurred suddenly, disrupting everyone's plans.）
2. 股市的暴跌是突如其来，许多投资者损失惨重。
   （The stock market crash happened abruptly, causing heavy losses for many investors.）
3. 突如其来的地震让人们惊慌失措。
   （The sudden earthquake caused people to panic.）
4. 一阵突如其来的大风把帽子吹跑了。
   （A sudden strong wind blew the hat away.）
5. 他突如其来地向我求婚，让我又惊又喜。
   （He suddenly proposed to me, filling me with surprise and joy.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• '突如其来' is an idiom originating from the ancient Chinese text 'Zuo Zhuan' (Commentary of Zuo) in the Spring and Autumn period. The original phrase '突如其来，如之何？' questions how to deal with sudden events.
• In modern Chinese, it is widely used to describe various unexpected events such as natural disasters, accidents, and incidents.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 猝不及防 (cù bù jí fáng): Something sudden that leaves no time to defend or prepare.
  • 出其不意 (chū qí bù yì): To take someone by surprise; to act unexpectedly.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 意料之中 (yì liào zhī zhōng): Within expectations; as anticipated.
  • 有备无患 (yǒu bèi wú huàn): Being prepared prevents trouble.

6. Summary

'突如其来' is a powerful expression describing unpredictable events in life. Using this idiom effectively conveys the surprise and significance of sudden occurrences.