How to say "immediately" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- adverb, nounThe all-purpose everyday word for 'immediately' or 'right away': something happens or is done without delay, in ordinary speech and writing alike.
- 早速さっそくadverbFor the 'without delay' sense of getting on with something: it fits when you start a task, follow up, or reply promptly instead of waiting.
- adverbAs an onomatopoeic word it paints quick, brisk action rather than mere timing; it is also used to tell someone to hurry up and get on with it.
- 直ちにただちにadverbA stiff, formal word for 'at once', typical of official announcements, warnings and instructions, where an immediate response or action is demanded.
- adverbBest for the 'in an instant' sense: something comes about or changes within a moment, describing how fast a situation develops rather than how promptly a person acts.
Use 「すぐ」 for the everyday 'right away', 早速 for starting something without delay, 「さっさと」 for brisk quick action, 「直ちに」 in formal instructions, and 「たちまち」 when something happens in an instant.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- すぐimmediately
- 早速さっそくat once
- さっさとquickly
- 直ちにただちにat once
- たちまちin an instant
- すかさずwithout a moment's delay
- 今いまnow
- 即刻そっこくimmediately
- 即座にそくざにimmediately
- すぐにimmediately
- すぐさまimmediately
- 直にじきにimmediately
- 一躍いちやくsuddenly (rising to fame, etc.)
- とっさにat once
- 今すぐいますぐat once
- 急にきゅうにswiftly
- 直様じきさまimmediately
- 即そくinstantly
- 間髪かんぱつimmediately
- 一刻も早くいっこくもはやくimmediately
- やにわにimmediately
- 間髪を入れずかんぱつをいれずimmediately
- すぐとimmediately
- 間髪入れずかんはついれずimmediately
- すぐにもimmediately
- 間髪おかずかんはつおかずimmediately
- ひたearnestly
- たちどころにat once
- 時を移さずときをうつさずat once
- 遅滞なくちたいなくwithout delay
- 秒でびょうでin an instant
- 速攻そっこうright away
- そのままimmediately
- ピンとintuitively
- 即行そっこうright away
- その場そのばthen and there
- すぐそこat once
See also
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