ふと

About

ふと is an adverb that describes a following action as "quick/sudden/unexpected".

ふと can be used in casual conversation, as well as in written (usually literary) contexts.

E.g. ふとマイクの方ほうを見みると、マイクは何なにかを隠かくそうとしていた。 "As I glanced at Mike, he tried to hide something."

ふと is commonly combined with "mental" verbs, such as 思おもう, 気きづく, 思おもい出だす, etc.

E.g. マイクは嘘うそをついているのではないかと、ふと思おもった。 "I suddenly thought that Mike might be lying."

E.g. あのピザ事件じけんのことを、今いまでもふと思おもい出だすことがある "Even now, I sometimes suddenly think of that pizza incident."

ふと can be combined with した to form the 連体詞れんたいし (pre-noun adjective) 「ふとした」.

ふとした is used to describe the following noun as "surprising/unexpected/on a whim/impulsive".

E.g. ふとしたことから、その噂うわさは嘘うそだとわかりました。 "By chance, I realized that the rumor was a lie."

Summary

• 

  ふと is an adverb that describes a following action as "quick/sudden/unexpected"

• 

  ふと can be used in casual conversation, as well as in written (usually literary) contexts

• 

  ふと is commonly combined with "mental" verbs, such as 思おもう, 気きづく, 思おもい出だす, etc

• 

  The 連体詞れんたいし (pre-noun adjective) 「ふとした」 is used to describe the following noun as "surprising/unexpected/on a whim/impulsive"