A1 Expression Informal

Bilisan mo

Hurry up

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A common, direct way to tell someone to increase their speed or finish a task quickly.

  • Means: 'Hurry up' or 'Make it fast.'
  • Used in: Catching transport, finishing chores, or meeting deadlines.
  • Don't confuse: Avoid using this with elders; it sounds demanding and rude.
🏃‍♂️ + ⏳ = ⚡ Bilisan mo!

Explanation at your level:

This is a very simple command. 'Bilis' means fast. 'Bilisan mo' means 'You, make it fast.' Use it with friends when you are in a hurry. It is one of the most useful phrases for daily life in the Philippines.
At this level, you should know that 'Bilisan mo' is an imperative verb form. It uses the suffix '-an' to focus on the action. You can combine it with other verbs using 'ang,' like 'Bilisan mo ang pag-uwi' (Hurry coming home).
Intermediate learners should distinguish between 'Bilisan mo' and 'Magmadali ka.' While both mean to hurry, 'Bilisan mo' is more common in casual speech. You should also start using 'naman' to add a layer of emotion, like impatience or pleading, to the request.
Upper-intermediate learners should master the nuances of register. You should understand that 'Bilisan mo' can sound aggressive if the intonation is wrong. You should be able to switch to 'Pakibilisan po' seamlessly when the social context changes, such as in a business meeting or when talking to an elder.
At this advanced stage, you can analyze the morphological structure of 'bilis' and its various derivations (e.g., mabilisan, pabilisin). You understand how 'Bilisan mo' fits into the broader Filipino concept of time and social harmony, and you can use it rhetorically in writing to create a sense of urgency.
Near-native mastery involves understanding the subtle sociolinguistic implications of the phrase. You can detect the difference between a playful 'Bilisan mo!' and a genuinely frustrated one based on minute changes in pitch and the presence of particles like 'nga' or 'na.' You also understand its use in literature and media as a tool for character development.

Significado

Asking someone to move faster.

🌍

Contexto cultural

In the fast-paced life of Metro Manila, 'Bilisan mo' is heard constantly in transit hubs. It reflects the 'nagmamadali' (always in a hurry) lifestyle of the capital. The concept of 'Filipino Time' is often joked about, but 'Bilisan mo' is the practical tool used to combat it within families. In a Filipino office, a boss might use 'Pakibilisan' to maintain a 'family-like' atmosphere while still demanding efficiency. Among Gen Z Filipinos, 'Dali!' is often preferred over 'Bilisan mo' for its brevity and punchiness in texts.

💡

Add 'naman'

Adding 'naman' (Bilisan mo naman) makes it sound more like a plea and less like a harsh order.

⚠️

Watch your tone

A sharp, falling intonation can make this sound very angry. Keep it light if you're just joking with friends.

Significado

Asking someone to move faster.

💡

Add 'naman'

Adding 'naman' (Bilisan mo naman) makes it sound more like a plea and less like a harsh order.

⚠️

Watch your tone

A sharp, falling intonation can make this sound very angry. Keep it light if you're just joking with friends.

🎯

Use 'Dali'

If you're really in a rush, just shouting 'Dali!' is faster and more natural in high-stress moments.

💬

The 'Po' Rule

When in doubt, always use 'Pakibilisan po.' You can never be too polite in the Philippines.

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the blank with the correct pronoun to say 'Hurry up' to a friend.

Bilisan _____, aalis na ang bus!

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: mo

'Mo' is the correct genitive pronoun used with the verb 'bilisan'.

Which of these is the most polite way to ask someone to hurry?

Choose the polite form:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Pakibilisan po.

'Paki' and 'po' are the essential markers of politeness in Filipino.

Match the phrase to the correct situation.

Situation: You are talking to your younger brother who is walking too slowly.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Bilisan mo!

This is the appropriate informal command for a younger sibling.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Male-late na tayo sa sine! B: Sandali, kinukuha ko lang ang susi. A: _________!

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Bilisan mo

The context of being late for a movie requires a command to hurry.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Formal vs. Informal

Informal (Friends)
Bilisan mo! Hurry up!
Formal (Elders/Boss)
Pakibilisan po. Please hurry up.

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

It depends on who you are talking to. With friends, it's fine. With elders, yes, it's very rude.

They are almost identical. 'Bilisan' comes from 'speed,' and 'Dalian' comes from 'quickness.' Both are used interchangeably.

Use 'Bilisan ninyo' instead of 'mo.'

Yes, it's very common in SMS and chat apps like Messenger or Viber.

It's just a shorter, more urgent way of saying 'Fast!' or 'Hurry!'

Yes, 'Kilos-kilos' or 'Galaw-galaw' are common slang terms for 'get moving.'

'Bilisan mo na' adds a sense of 'now' or 'already,' increasing the urgency.

It's better to say 'Pakibilisan po ang order namin' to be polite.

The root word is 'bilis,' which means speed.

You can say 'Huwag kang magmadali' or 'Dahan-dahan lang.'

Frases relacionadas

🔄

Dalian mo

synonym

Hurry up

🔗

Magmadali ka

similar

Hurry yourself

🔗

Huwag kang mabagal

contrast

Don't be slow

🔗

Kilos na

builds on

Move now

🔗

Pakibilisan po

specialized form

Please hurry up

Dónde usarla

🚐

Catching a Jeepney

Friend A: Ayan na ang jeep!

Friend B: Bilisan mo, baka mapuno!

informal
⏰

Morning Routine

Ina (Mother): Anak, alas-siyete na.

Anak (Child): Opo, malapit na po.

Ina (Mother): Bilisan mo ang pagkilos, male-late ka!

informal
🍲

At a Restaurant

Customer: Excuse me, gutom na kami.

Waiter: Sandali lang po, parating na.

Customer: Pakibilisan naman po ang order namin.

neutral
🎮

Online Gaming

Player 1: Nasa likod mo ang kalaban!

Player 2: Bilisan mo, i-revive mo ako!

slang
🛍️

Shopping

Husband: Ang dami mo namang tinitingnan.

Wife: Sandali lang, maganda ito.

Husband: Bilisan mo, magsasara na ang mall.

informal
🌧️

Rainy Day

Kuya: Uulan na, bilisan mo ang paglakad!

Bunso: Opo, heto na!

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Billi' (cat in Hindi/Urdu) running fast. 'Billi-san' is a fast cat!

Visual Association

Imagine a person running so fast their shoes are smoking, and a giant clock is chasing them.

Rhyme

Bilis, bilis, huwag mag-atubili! (Fast, fast, don't hesitate!)

Story

You are at a Jeepney stop. The driver is revving the engine. Your friend is still buying a snack. You yell 'Bilisan mo!' so you don't have to wait 20 minutes for the next ride.

Word Web

BilisMabilisBinilisanBibilisanNagmamadaliDaliKilosTakbo

Desafío

Try saying 'Bilisan mo' three times fast, then try the polite version 'Pakibilisan po' three times.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¡Apúrate!

Spanish has a distinct 'vosotros' form for plural, while Filipino uses 'ninyo'.

French high

Dépêche-toi !

French has a very strict 'tu' vs 'vous' distinction similar to Filipino's 'mo' vs 'ninyo/po'.

German moderate

Beeil dich!

German word order is more rigid than Filipino.

Japanese high

早く！ (Hayaku!)

Japanese has many levels of politeness (Keigo) that are even more complex than Filipino.

Arabic moderate

أسرع (Asri')

Arabic verbs change significantly based on the gender of the person being addressed.

Chinese high

快点 (Kuài diǎn)

Chinese does not use verb suffixes like Filipino's '-an'.

Korean high

빨리! (Ppalli!)

Korean uses honorific endings (yo/nida) to change the register, whereas Filipino uses 'po'.

Portuguese moderate

Depressa!

Portuguese often uses adverbs as commands more frequently than Filipino.

Easily Confused

Bilisan mo vs Bilis mo

Learners think it's a command, but it's actually a statement.

If there is no '-an' at the end, you are describing the person, not giving an order.

Bilisan mo vs Mabilis mo

Mixing up adjectives and verbs.

Adjectives like 'mabilis' don't take 'mo' directly in a command structure.

Preguntas frecuentes (10)

It depends on who you are talking to. With friends, it's fine. With elders, yes, it's very rude.

They are almost identical. 'Bilisan' comes from 'speed,' and 'Dalian' comes from 'quickness.' Both are used interchangeably.

Use 'Bilisan ninyo' instead of 'mo.'

Yes, it's very common in SMS and chat apps like Messenger or Viber.

It's just a shorter, more urgent way of saying 'Fast!' or 'Hurry!'

Yes, 'Kilos-kilos' or 'Galaw-galaw' are common slang terms for 'get moving.'

'Bilisan mo na' adds a sense of 'now' or 'already,' increasing the urgency.

It's better to say 'Pakibilisan po ang order namin' to be polite.

The root word is 'bilis,' which means speed.

You can say 'Huwag kang magmadali' or 'Dahan-dahan lang.'

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