How to say "promptly" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- いち早くいちはやくadverbCovers 'promptly' as swift reaction or action, often ahead of others. Typical contexts include reporting that a company or official responded swiftly the moment news broke.
- 早々はやばやadverb (with と)Covers 'promptly' but also plain 'early'; it often describes doing something soon after another event. Typical context: someone getting down to work right after arriving, or leaving a party early.
- adverbCovers 'promptly' as brisk, no-nonsense speed; its onomatopoeic character can add a brusque or impatient tone. Typical context: telling someone to hurry up and finish, or someone leaving without lingering.
- 早速さっそくadverbCovers 'promptly' as getting on with something at once, without preliminaries; it often marks moving straight to the matter at hand. Typical context: starting a meeting or trying out a new tool right away.
- 言下げんかnounA narrow word: it means responding promptly and on the spot, typically agreeing or refusing outright the moment something is said. It is seldom a general substitute for 'promptly' in other contexts.
All five can convey 'without delay', but 「いち早く」 stresses swift reaction, 早々 also means 'early', 「さっさと」 is brisk and brusque, 早速 moves straight to action, and 言下 is only for on-the-spot replies.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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