adverb HSK 4
all at once · suddenly · in an instant · all of a sudden
Meaning
一下子 expresses the suddenness or immediacy of an action or change. It emphasizes that something happens quickly, unexpectedly, or completes in a very short time. This word adds a sense of rapidity or abruptness to the verb it modifies.
Usage
Used in spoken and written Chinese to stress the speed or suddenness of an event. Typically placed before the verb. Very common in everyday conversation when describing quick changes in state, sudden realizations, or rapid actions. Can also soften a statement about quantity when saying "I can't do X all at once."
Examples
- 01天气一下子变冷了。.The weather suddenly turned cold.
- 02我一下子想不起来他的名字。.I can't recall his name right away.
Characters
Common collocations
- 一下子就......immediately..., right away...
- 一下子明白了suddenly understood
- 一下子说不清can't explain clearly all at once
Antonyms
Origin
Literally combines 一 (one) + 下 (a brief action) + 子 (nominal suffix), creating the sense of "in one go" or "in one brief moment." The 子 softens the expression and makes it more colloquial.