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猛然 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
猛然měngránsuddenlyHSK 7, unknown, 23 strokes, rank #30227, Very Hard
猛然měngránabruptlyHSK 7, unknown, 23 strokes, rank #30227, Very Hard
měngrán(meng3ran2)meng ran T3
  1. 1suddenly
  2. 2abruptly
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March 24, 2026

猛然měngrán(meng3ran2)

猛然 (měngrán) means 'suddenly' or 'abruptly.' It is often used to describe an unexpected or swift occurrence, such as an event that takes one by surprise. Common usage contexts include sudden changes in emotions, actions, or situations.

Strokes23Frequency#30227DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, sudden changes or events are often viewed with a sense of fate or destiny, as seen in literature and philosophy. The concept of 'sudden enlightenment' in Zen Buddhism parallels the abrupt nature of 猛然.

Memory tip

Think of 猛 (měng) as 'fierce' and 然 (rán) as 'to be.' Imagine a fierce tiger (猛) suddenly pouncing (然) on its prey—this imagery helps connect the characters to the idea of something happening suddenly.

Meanings of 猛然

měngrán(meng3ran2)
1suddenly
2abruptly
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About 猛然

猛然Simplified
23Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 猛然

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AI study notes for 猛然

Quick Contrast

猛然 (měngrán) vs 突然 (tūrán) — use 猛然 for a more forceful or intense suddenness, while 突然 is more neutral.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 猛然 with other adverbs of time; it specifically implies a suddenness that can carry a sense of shock. It's typically used in more formal contexts, and common collocations include 猛然袭来 (suddenly attack) or 猛然醒悟 (suddenly come to realization).

HSK Study Tips

While 猛然 isn't directly listed on HSK levels, it can be useful for HSK 4-5 learners who are expanding their vocabulary of adverbs. Focus on its application in descriptive scenarios and practice using it with verbs that imply sudden actions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 猛然 with 突然 when describing sudden events. For example, saying "我猛然去商店" (I suddenly go to the store) should be corrected to "我突然去商店" to convey a more typical expression.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 猛然

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Component characters

猛měngferocious
HSK 711 strokes犭
View full entry
然ráncorrect
12 strokes灬
View full entry

How to say suddenly in Chinese

“suddenly” in Chinese is猛然měngrán

猛然 (měngrán) means 'suddenly' or 'abruptly.' It is often used to describe an unexpected or swift occurrence, such as an event that takes one by surprise. Common usage contexts include sudden changes in emotions, actions, or situations.

When to use 猛然

Be careful not to confuse 猛然 with other adverbs of time; it specifically implies a suddenness that can carry a sense of shock. It's typically used in more formal contexts, and common collocations include 猛然袭来 (suddenly attack) or 猛然醒悟 (suddenly come to realization).

猛然 or something close to it

猛然 (měngrán) vs 突然 (tūrán) — use 猛然 for a more forceful or intense suddenness, while 突然 is more neutral.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up 猛然 with 突然 when describing sudden events. For example, saying "我猛然去商店" (I suddenly go to the store) should be corrected to "我突然去商店" to convey a more typical expression.

Write 猛然

猛
然

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Frequently asked questions about 猛然

Yes, but it is more common in written or formal contexts. In spoken language, you might use 突然 (túrán) more frequently.

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