顿时

頓時

dùnshí

adverb HSK 7-9 #24,189

Meanings

1 immediately
2 at once
3 instantly

Characters

suddenly; to pause

Examples

听到这个消息，她顿时哭了起来。

Tīngdào zhège xiāoxi, tā dùnshí kū le qǐlái.

Upon hearing the news, she immediately burst into tears.

教室里顿时安静了下来。

Jiàoshì lǐ dùnshí ānjìng le xiàlái.

The classroom instantly fell silent.

Tips

usage

顿时 emphasizes the suddenness and immediacy of a reaction or change. It is often used in narrative writing to describe a dramatic shift.

Stroke Order

顿 dùn

时 shí