Meaning
立刻 means to do something immediately without any delay. It emphasizes that the action happens right at this very moment or will happen in the next instant. It's one of the most common ways to express urgency and immediacy in Mandarin.
Usage
立刻 is widely used in both spoken and written Chinese to indicate immediate action. It can modify verbs directly and is often interchangeable with 马上 (mǎshàng), though 立刻 tends to sound slightly more formal or emphatic. Commonly used in commands, requests, or when describing urgent situations.
Examples
- 01听到火警后，大家立刻撤离了大楼。, .After hearing the fire alarm, everyone immediately evacuated the building.
- 02如果你感觉不舒服，请立刻告诉我。, .If you feel unwell, please tell me immediately.
Characters
Common collocations
- 立刻行动take action immediately
- 立刻回来come back immediately
- 立刻停止stop immediately
- 立刻离开leave immediately
Antonyms
Origin
立 originally means 'to stand' and 刻 refers to a carved mark or a moment in time (ancient timekeeping divided hours into quarters). Together, 立刻 literally suggests 'standing at this very moment,' conveying the sense of no time passing between now and the action.