骤 (zhòu) - Sudden, abrupt & rapid, swift

骤Tone 4

zhòu ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

志

骤 · zhòu

Sudden, abrupt;

rapid, swift;

to gallop, to run quickly;

to hasten, to urge on.

Sudden, abruptrapid, swiftto gallop, to run quickly

Usage highlights

Sudden changeHeavy showerSudden riseRapid increaseAbrupt dropGalloping horse

Synonyms

  • 突— sudden, abrupt
  • 急— urgent, rapid
  • 迅— swift, fast

Antonyms

  • 缓— slow, gradual
  • 渐— gradual, progressive
  • 徐— slow, gentle

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The weather changed suddenly (骤变).
  • He galloped on horseback (策马疾骤).
  • There was a sudden downpour (骤雨).
  • The situation changed abruptly (形势骤变).

Collocations

  • Sudden change(骤变)
  • Heavy shower(骤雨)
  • Sudden rise(骤升)
  • Rapid increase(骤增)
  • Abrupt drop(骤降)
  • Galloping horse(骤马)

Idioms

  • Violent wind and sudden rain(暴风骤雨)
  • Rapid steps like flying(步骡如骤)
  • Sudden change of circumstances(风云骤变)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted a horse running swiftly, evolving to mean suddenness or rapid change.
  • Often used in classical poetry to describe rapid natural phenomena like storms or seasonal changes.
  • In modern usage, frequently describes abrupt economic, social, or weather changes.

FAQ