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    突然の土砂降り

    Grammar & Usage

    fixed expression (noun phrase)
    neutral

    How it works

    This is a noun phrase formed by '突然' (totsuzen, a noun meaning 'suddenness' or functioning adverbially as 'suddenly'), the particle 'の' (no), and '土砂降り' (doshaburi, a noun meaning 'downpour' or 'torrential rain'). The 'の' particle here functions to modify '土砂降り' with '突然', indicating 'a downpour that is sudden'.

    Sample sentences

    傘を持っていなかったので、突然の土砂降りにずぶ濡れになった。

    I didn't have an umbrella, so I got soaked by the sudden downpour.

    ピクニック中に突然の土砂降りで、みんな急いで屋根の下に避難した。

    During the picnic, there was a sudden downpour, and everyone rushed to take shelter under the roof.

    あの地域では、夏の午後によく突然の土砂降りがある。

    In that region, sudden downpours are common on summer afternoons.

    Quick facts

    nuance:土砂降り implies a particularly heavy and intense rain, more so than just 'heavy rain' (大雨 - ōame).
    etymology:突然 (totsuzen) is a kango (Sino-Japanese word). 土砂降り (doshaburi) is a yamato kotoba (native Japanese word), literally meaning 'dirt/sand falling', metaphorically describing heavy rain.

    Mnemonic

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    Example

    傘を持っていなかったので、突然の土砂降りにずぶ濡れになった。

    I didn't have an umbrella, so I got soaked by the sudden downpour.

    ピクニック中に突然の土砂降りで、みんな急いで屋根の下に避難した。

    During the picnic, there was a sudden downpour, and everyone rushed to take shelter under the roof.

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