いきなり

For no reason, Suddenly, All of a sudden

いきなり雨あめが降ふってきたからびしょびしょだよ。

It suddenly started raining and I'm drenched.

Explanation

「いきなり」 means 'suddenly / out of the blue'. With no warning and skipping the usual steps, someone does something or something happens at once, which feels abrupt, catches people off guard, and may even seem rude: 「いきなり怒鳴りつける」 (to suddenly yell at someone); 「いきなり辞めると言い出す」 (to suddenly say he's quitting).

Mixed up with

「いきなり」: skips the preparation; the act is abrupt and rash.

「突然」: written and spoken; objectively 'without warning'.

「急に」: the most casual; stresses speed and a steep change.

「不意に」: happens when someone is off guard.

Easily confused withたちまち・いきなり: the difference ›

Examples

弟おとうとは、行いき成なり手てづかみでご飯はんを食たべ始はじめた。
My younger brother suddenly started eating rice with his hands for no reason.
行いき成なりの展開てんかいに驚おどろきを隠かくせない。
I can't hide my surprise at the sudden development.
いきなり電話でんわしてごめん。ちょっと相談そうだんしたい事ことがあるんだけど今いま時間じかん大丈夫だいじょうぶ？
Sorry for calling you suddenly. I need to talk to you about something, but is now a good time for you?
ペットのワンちゃんがいきなり吠ほえ出だしたからびっくりして起おきた。
I was startled awake when my pet dog suddenly started barking.
行いき成なり電波でんぱが途切とぎれてしまうのは困こまる。
It's a problem when the signal suddenly cuts out.
そんな行いき成なり停車ていしゃしたら危あぶないですよ。
Abruptly stopping like that is dangerous!
行いき成なり難問なんもんに突つき当あたってしまった。
I suddenly, and unfortunately, ran into a hard problem.
お婆ばあさんは何なにも言いわず、行いき成なり私わたしを抱だきしめました。
The old woman suddenly hugged me without saying a word.
行いき成なりテーマと違ちがう話はなしをするのはやめてください。
Please stop suddenly talking about things that are off the topic.
行いき成なり手続てつづきはできません。書類しょるいを揃そろえてください。
I cannot just all of a sudden process it. Please put the documents in order.
床屋とこやさんが何なにも聞きかずに行いき成なり髪かみを切きり始はじめた。
The barber suddenly began cutting my hair without asking anything.
散歩さんぽの最中さいちゅうに、岩村いわむらさんが行いき成なり「好すきな女おんなの子こがいるの？」と私わたしに聞きいたので、びっくりした。
In the middle of our walk, Iwamura-san suddenly asked me, 'Is there a girl you like?', and it surprised me.
行いき成なり飛とび込こんだ店みせで契約けいやくが取とれました。
I was able to land a contract with the shop that I suddenly showed up to unannounced.