adverb HSK 2
Traditional 馬上
immediately · right away · at once
Meaning
马上 literally means 'on horseback' but is used idiomatically to express that something will happen very soon or immediately. It conveys a sense of urgency and immediacy, similar to saying 'right now' or 'in a moment' in English.
Usage
This is an extremely common colloquial expression used in everyday speech. It can modify verbs to indicate an action that will happen without delay. Sometimes used to politely tell someone you'll do something soon, though the actual time may vary slightly depending on context.
Examples
- 01我马上就来！!I'll be there right away!
- 02电影马上要开始了。.The movie is about to start.
Characters
Common collocations
- 马上来coming right away
- 马上就到will arrive immediately
- 马上回来will be right back
- 马上开始start right away
Antonyms
Origin
Originated from the literal meaning of 'on horseback,' suggesting the speed and immediacy of mounted travel. Over time, it evolved into a purely temporal adverb meaning 'immediately.'