अचानक (achaanak)
adverb/adjective
A single-meaning word: 'suddenly, unexpectedly.' It works both as an adverb modifying a verb and as an adjective describing a noun, with no change in form between the two.
Sense
1
:
suddenly, all of a sudden
adverb
Synonyms: अनायास (anaayaas, literary), एकाएक (ekaaek), सहसा (sahsaa, literary), आकस्मिक रूप से (aakasmik roop se, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the word Delhiites reach for constantly when talking about the city's chaos -- अचानक बारिश हो गई (achaanak baarish ho gaii, 'it suddenly started raining') or अचानक बिजली चली गई (achaanak bijlii chalii gaii, 'the power suddenly went') are everyday complaints. It pairs naturally with verbs of appearing, stopping, or changing, since Hindi likes to frame unexpected events as things that simply happen to you.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes place अचानक (achaanak) at the very end of the sentence as English speakers do with 'suddenly' -- in natural Hindi it usually sits right before the verb phrase, e.g. वह अचानक आ गया (vah achaanak aa gayaa, 'he suddenly came'), not वह आ गया अचानक (vah aa gayaa achaanak). 2) It often pairs with the compound verb construction (verb + जाना (jaanaa) / verb + पड़ना (padnaa)) to sharpen the sense of abruptness -- रो पड़ा (ro padaa, 'suddenly burst into tears') feels more natural with अचानक (achaanak) than a plain simple verb.
Sample Sentences:
अचानक बारिश हो गई।
It suddenly started raining.
(achaanak baarish ho gaii।)
अचानक बिजली चली गई।
The power suddenly went out.
(achaanak bijlii chalii gaii।)
गाड़ी अचानक रुक जाती है, तो मुझे बहुत डर लगता है।
When the car suddenly stops, I get really scared.
(gaadii achaanak ruk jaatii hai, to mujhe bahut dar lagtaa hai।)
वह अचानक कमरे में घुस आया।
He suddenly barged into the room.
(vah achaanak kamre men ghus aayaa।)
अगर मौसम अचानक बदल जाए, तो छाता साथ रख लेना।
If the weather suddenly changes, keep an umbrella with you.
(agar mausam achaanak badal jaae, to chhaataa saath rakh lenaa।)
काश वह अचानक गायब न हो जाता।
I wish he hadn't suddenly disappeared.
(kaash vah achaanak gaayab n ho jaataa।)
अचानक मत रुकिए, वरना पीछे वाली गाड़ी टकरा जाएगी।
Don't stop suddenly, or the car behind will crash into you.
(achaanak mat rukie, varnaa piichhe vaalii gaadii takraa jaaegii।)
बैठक के दौरान अचानक सारी बत्तियाँ बुझा दी गईं।
During the meeting, all the lights were suddenly switched off.
(baithak ke dauraan achaanak saarii battiyaan bujhaa dii gaiin।)
वह अचानक रोने लगी, किसी को समझ नहीं आया क्यों।
She suddenly started crying, and no one understood why.
(vah achaanak rone lagii, kisii ko samajh nahiin aayaa kyon।)
क्या पता कब अचानक ट्रैफिक जाम लग जाए, इसलिए जल्दी निकलना ही ठीक है।
Who knows when a traffic jam might suddenly happen, so it's best to leave early.
(kyaa pataa kab achaanak traiphik jaam lag jaae, islie jaldii nikalnaa hii thiik hai।)
उस रात अचानक एक भूकंप का झटका महसूस हुआ, और सब लोग सड़क पर आ गए।
That night an earthquake tremor was suddenly felt, and everyone came out onto the street.
(us raat achaanak ek bhookamp kaa jhatkaa mahsoos huaa, aur sab log sadak par aa gae।)
Sense
2
:
sudden, unexpected (describing a noun)
adjective Used attributively before a noun, e.g. अचानक मौत (achaanak maut, 'sudden death'); it does not inflect for gender or number in this use.
Synonyms: आकस्मिक (aakasmik, formal), अप्रत्याशित (apratyaashit, formal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will see this on news tickers a lot -- अचानक हमला (achaanak hamlaa, 'sudden attack') or अचानक फैसला (achaanak phaislaa, 'sudden decision') are standard headline phrasing, since अचानक (achaanak) carries a slightly more dramatic, newsworthy flavor than a plain 'unexpected.'
Sample Sentences:
यह एक अचानक हमला था।
It was a sudden attack.
(yah ek achaanak hamlaa thaa।)
सरकार के अचानक फैसले ने सबको चौंका दिया।
The government's sudden decision shocked everyone.
(sarkaar ke achaanak phaisle ne sabko chaunkaa diyaa।)
अचानक मौत की खबर सुनकर पूरा गाँव सदमे में था।
Hearing the news of the sudden death, the whole village was in shock.
(achaanak maut kii khabar sunkar pooraa gaanv sadme men thaa।)
अगर कोई अचानक बदलाव हो, तो मुझे फ़ौरन बताना।
If there is any sudden change, tell me immediately.
(agar koii achaanak badlaav ho, to mujhe fauran bataanaa।)
अचानक बारिश से सारा कार्यक्रम बिगड़ गया।
The sudden rain ruined the whole program.
(achaanak baarish se saaraa kaaryakram bigad gayaa।)
इस तरह के अचानक झटकों के लिए हमें तैयार रहना चाहिए।
We should stay prepared for such sudden shocks.
(is tarah ke achaanak jhatkon ke lie hamen taiyaar rahnaa chaahie।)
अचानक तूफ़ान आने की चेतावनी दी गई है।
A warning has been issued about a sudden storm.
(achaanak toofaan aane kii chetaavnii dii gaii hai।)
यह खबर तो एकदम अचानक झटका है यार।
This news is such a sudden shock, man.
(yah khabar to ekdam achaanak jhatkaa hai yaar।)
सीमा पर अचानक हमले की आशंका जताई जा रही है।
Fears of a sudden attack on the border are being expressed.
(siimaa par achaanak hamle kii aashankaa jataaii jaa rahii hai।)
काश उस अचानक दुर्घटना को टाला जा सकता।
If only that sudden accident could have been avoided.
(kaash us achaanak durghatnaa ko taalaa jaa saktaa।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
अचानक
(achaanak)