すぐ・直ぐsugu[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. adverb, nounimmediately; at once; right away; directly
   彼かれは警官けいかんを見みるとすぐ、逃にげた。↗

   As soon as he saw a policeman, he ran away.
2. adverb, nounsoon; before long; shortly
   「雨あめがすぐあがるでしょうか」「あがらないと思おもうよ」↗

   "Will it stop raining soon?" "I'm afraid not."
3. adverb, nouneasily; readily; without difficulty
   すぐわかるところにあるよ。↗

   It's in plain sight.
4. adverb, nounright (near); nearby; just (handy)
5. na-adjectivehonest; upright; frank; straightforward

• Synonym早速さっそくNeutralNeutral. Means getting started on something right away, usually for positive action, as in 「早速始めましょう」.
• Synonymいち早くいちはやくNeutralNeutral. Emphasizes being first, acting a step ahead of others, as in 「いち早く情報を得る」.
• SynonymすぐさまNeutralNeutral but slightly bookish: stresses acting without a moment's hesitation more than 「すぐ」, as in 「すぐさま駆けつける」.
• Synonym早々そうそうNeutralNeutral. Means just after something, as in 「入学早々」, or hurriedly, as in 「早々に帰る」.
• Synonym直ちにただちにFormalFormal. For writing and formal settings; acting at once with no delay, as in 「直ちに避難してください」.
• SynonymすぐにNeutralNeutral. Much the same as 「すぐ」 and usually interchangeable for time; only 「すぐ」 also covers closeness in space, as in 「すぐそこ」.
• SynonymたちまちNeutralNeutral. Describes something changing in the blink of an eye, stressing how fast the change is, as in 「たちまち売り切れた」.
• Synonym即刻そっこくFormalFormal. Immediate with a forceful tone, mostly in commands and notices, as in 「即刻退去せよ」.
• Synonym即座にそくざにNeutralNeutral. Right there on the spot, stressing that there is no gap at all, as in 「即座に答える」.
• SynonymとっさにNeutralNeutral. For reacting in a split second to something sudden, as in 「咄嗟に避ける」 or 「咄嗟に判断する」.
• SynonymさっさとCasualColloquial. Briskly, without dawdling; often used to hurry someone along, as in 「さっさとしなさい」.
• SynonymすかさずNeutralNeutral. Seizing the moment without letting a chance slip, often in response to another person, as in 「すかさず反論する」.
• Synonym至急しきゅうFormalFormal. Urgent, as fast as possible, common in business and official documents, as in 「至急ご連絡ください」.
• Synonym直にじきにNeutralNeutral. Soon, before long, as in 「じきに慣れる」; sits slightly further off in time than 「すぐ」.
• Synonym近々ちかぢかNeutralNeutral. Within the near future, a looser time frame than 「すぐ」, as in 「近々伺います」.
• SynonymたちどころにWrittenWritten/formal prose. Instantly, on the spot, as in 「たちどころに治る」 or 「立ちどころに答える」.
• Synonym早いとこはやいとこCasualColloquial. Urges getting something done quickly, with a casual feel, as in 「早いとこ片付けよう」.
• Synonym直様じきさまWrittenWritten/formal prose. An old-fashioned word for at once, rarely used today; say 「すぐ」 in everyday speech.
• SynonymいくばくもなくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means not long after, before long, mostly in narration; it does not refer to this very moment.
• SynonymすぐとCasualColloquial. Old-fashioned word for at once, also for doing something in person and directly; rare today, say 「すぐ」.
• SynonymとっととCasualColloquial. Rough, mostly in commands like 「とっとと帰れ」; rude when said to a person.
• Related早々はやはやNeutralNeutral. Means just after something, as in 「入学早々」, or hurriedly, as in 「早々に帰る」.
• Related一も二もなくいちもにもなくNeutralNeutral. Means without a second thought, stressing the lack of hesitation rather than speed, as in 「一も二もなく賛成する」.
• RelatedぱっぱとCasualColloquial. Snappily and briskly, focusing on nimble movements, as in 「ぱっぱと片付ける」.
• RelatedちゃっとCasualColloquial. Dialectal, for quickly or slightly; rare today, say 「さっと」 or 「すぐ」.
• Antonym後であとでNeutralNeutral antonym. The opposite of 「すぐ」: later on, after a while, as in 「後で電話する」.
• Antonym遅くおそくNeutralNeutral antonym. The opposite of 「すぐ」: late or slowly, as in 「遅く帰る」.

For 'right away', 「すぐ」 is the default choice. In formal notices use 「直ちに」 or 「至急」; for getting started on something at once use 「早速」; for answering on the spot use 「即座に」; for split-second reactions to the unexpected use 「咄嗟に」; to hurry someone along use 「さっさと」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 時間じかんをおかずに。極きわめて短みじかい時間じかんのうちに。ただちに。
2. 極きわめて近ちかい位置いちに。
3. 駒こまをまっすぐ前まえに進すすめること。