Explanation at your level:
You use 立刻 when you want to say 'now.' If you are hungry, you can say 'I want to eat 立刻.' It is a very simple way to show that you are in a hurry. Just put it before the action you want to do!
At this level, you can use 立刻 to describe daily tasks. For example, 'I will 立刻 call you.' It helps you sound more natural when making plans with friends or teachers. Remember, it means 'right away' so don't use it if you plan to wait for an hour!
As you move to intermediate Chinese, use 立刻 to show urgency in work or school. It is great for responding to requests. 'Please 立刻 send me the report.' It shows you are professional and ready to work. It is more precise than just saying 'soon.'
In upper-intermediate Chinese, you can use 立刻 to add nuance to your storytelling. Use it to describe sudden changes in a narrative. 'The sky turned dark, and 立刻 it started to rain.' This creates a vivid image for your reader or listener, showing how fast events unfolded.
At the advanced level, 立刻 can be used in formal, written, or academic contexts to denote cause-and-effect relationships. 'The policy change 立刻 resulted in higher efficiency.' It functions as a precise temporal marker that emphasizes the lack of latency in a system or reaction. It is a staple in formal reports and professional correspondence.
Mastery of 立刻 involves understanding its subtle weight compared to synonyms like 当即 or 即刻. While 立刻 is standard, 即刻 sounds slightly more literary or archaic. Use 立刻 to maintain a balance between clarity and professional urgency. In high-level rhetoric, it serves to command attention, signaling that the following information or action is of immediate significance to all parties involved.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means immediately
- Adverb usage
- Common in speech
- Formal and neutral
立刻 is one of the most useful adverbs in Mandarin Chinese. It translates directly to 'immediately' or 'at once.' When you use this word, you are telling the listener that the action is happening without any delay.
Think of it as the opposite of 'later.' If someone asks you to do a task, and you say you will do it 立刻, you are promising to start that very second. It is a fantastic word for showing efficiency and responsiveness in both casual and professional settings.
The word 立刻 has deep roots in Classical Chinese. The character 立 (lì) originally meant to stand upright, but evolved to mean 'immediately' or 'at this moment.' The character 刻 (kè) refers to a unit of time, historically a quarter of an hour marked on a water clock.
By combining these, the term literally suggests 'standing at the current moment.' Over centuries, it moved from formal literary texts into the heart of everyday spoken language. It is fascinating how a word once tied to ancient timekeeping now fuels our modern, fast-paced digital conversations.
You will mostly find 立刻 placed before a verb. For example, 立刻出发 (leave immediately) is a very common construction. It works well in both formal business emails and casual chats with friends.
While it is very versatile, try not to overuse it in every single sentence, or you might sound like you are constantly in a panic! It is most effective when you really need to emphasize that something is a top priority.
While 立刻 is a standalone adverb, it is often paired with other structures. 1. 立刻马上 (Immediately and right away) - used for extra emphasis. 2. 立竿见影 (To see the pole and the shadow) - meaning to see immediate results. 3. 刻不容缓 (Not a moment to delay) - used for urgent crises. 4. 当机立断 (Decide immediately) - for quick decision making. 5. 立刻行动 (Take action immediately) - a standard call to action.
Grammatically, 立刻 functions as an adverbial modifier. It typically sits before the verb. In terms of pronunciation, the IPA is roughly /li˥˩ kʰɤ˥˩/. Note the falling tones on both syllables.
It does not have plural forms or articles, as it is a pure adverb. It is often confused with 马上 (mǎshàng), though 立刻 is often viewed as slightly more formal or emphatic regarding the speed of the action.
Fun Fact
The character '刻' originally referred to notches on a water clock.
Pronunciation Guide
L-ee kuh
L-ee kuh
Common Errors
- Mixing up the tones
- Adding extra sounds
- Stressing the wrong syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy
Easy
Easy
Very easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adverb placement
我立刻去
Imperative sentences
立刻走！
Time markers
立刻
Examples by Level
我立刻去。
I immediately go.
Subject + adverb + verb.
立刻吃饭！
Immediately eat!
Imperative usage.
立刻回来。
Immediately return.
Command form.
立刻睡觉。
Immediately sleep.
Command form.
立刻停下。
Immediately stop.
Command form.
立刻开始。
Immediately start.
Command form.
我立刻看。
I immediately look.
Subject + adverb + verb.
立刻走！
Immediately leave!
Short imperative.
请立刻告诉我。
他立刻回答了。
我们立刻出发。
立刻给我打电话。
立刻把门关上。
立刻停止吵闹。
立刻完成作业。
立刻处理这件事。
这件事需要立刻解决。
他立刻意识到错了。
请立刻回复我的邮件。
警报响了，大家立刻撤离。
他立刻站了起来。
我立刻就去办。
立刻采取行动。
立刻改变了计划。
这立刻引起了大家的注意。
他的态度立刻变了。
立刻执行这项命令。
立刻停止这种行为。
立刻改善了环境。
立刻生效。
立刻显现出来。
立刻投入工作。
该措施立刻缓解了压力。
立刻呈现出新的局面。
立刻消除了误解。
立刻响应号召。
立刻调整了策略。
立刻投入生产。
立刻产生了连锁反应。
立刻达成了共识。
立刻付诸实践。
立刻扭转了乾坤。
立刻体现出卓越的效率。
立刻引起了广泛的共鸣。
立刻进入了状态。
立刻展现出领袖风范。
立刻打破了僵局。
立刻成为了焦点。
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"立竿见影"
immediate results
这个方法立竿见影。
formal"刻不容缓"
no time to delay
救灾工作刻不容缓。
formal"当机立断"
decide instantly
他当机立断，避免了损失。
formal"立刻马上"
right this second
你立刻马上给我回来！
casual"立地成佛"
become enlightened instantly
他仿佛立地成佛了。
literary"立见分晓"
result seen immediately
比赛结果立见分晓。
neutralEasily Confused
Both mean now
马上 is more casual
我马上就来 vs 我立刻就来
Both mean now
即刻 is more literary
即刻生效
Both mean now
当即 is for a specific moment
他当即拒绝
Both imply speed
赶快 is a command to hurry
赶快走
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 立刻 + Verb
我立刻去。
立刻 + Verb + Object
立刻处理问题。
请 + 立刻 + Verb
请立刻回复。
立刻 + 变得 + Adjective
立刻变得安静。
立刻 + 产生 + Noun
立刻产生效果。
Word Family
Nouns
Related
How to Use It
9
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
立刻 is an adverb, not a verb, so it shouldn't take '了' directly.
立刻 implies 'now', so it clashes with future markers.
立刻 is not an adjective, so it doesn't take '很'.
立刻 doesn't need '地' to function as an adverb.
立刻 is already a time marker.
Tips
Memory Palace
Place a clock on your desk and imagine jumping off it.
Native usage
Use it when someone asks for a quick favor.
Cultural insight
Shows efficiency.
Grammar shortcut
Put it before the verb.
Say it right
Falling tones on both.
Don't add '了'
Adverbs don't take '了'.
Did you know?
刻 refers to ancient clocks.
Study smart
Practice with commands.
Business tip
Use in professional emails.
Comparison
Compare with 马上.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Li (Stand) + Ke (Time notch) = Stand at the time notch (now).
Visual Association
A person standing on a clock.
Word Web
Challenge
Say 'I will do it immediately' in Chinese 5 times.
Word Origin
Chinese
Original meaning: Stand at the moment
Cultural Context
None
Direct translation is 'immediately'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- 立刻处理
- 立刻回复
- 立刻执行
At home
- 立刻回来
- 立刻睡觉
- 立刻吃饭
Travel
- 立刻出发
- 立刻登机
- 立刻到达
Emergency
- 立刻报警
- 立刻撤离
- 立刻求救
Conversation Starters
"你能不能立刻帮我？"
"这件事需要立刻解决吗？"
"我们什么时候立刻出发？"
"你立刻就要走吗？"
"他立刻回答了你吗？"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you had to act immediately.
Why is it important to act immediately in business?
Compare the urgency of '立刻' and '马上'.
Write a story where everything happens immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsVery similar, but 立刻 is often slightly more formal.
No, it refers to the present moment.
No.
Yes, very common.
No, it's not an adjective.
Both.
Yes, high speed.
Depends on tone, usually neutral.
Test Yourself
我___去。
立刻 is the correct adverb for immediate action.
Which means 'immediately'?
立刻 means immediately.
立刻 can be used as an adjective.
It is an adverb.
Word
Meaning
Direct translation.
Subject + Adverb + Verb.
Score: /5
Summary
立刻 is your go-to adverb for expressing that something happens right this second.
- Means immediately
- Adverb usage
- Common in speech
- Formal and neutral
Memory Palace
Place a clock on your desk and imagine jumping off it.
Native usage
Use it when someone asks for a quick favor.
Cultural insight
Shows efficiency.
Grammar shortcut
Put it before the verb.
Example
请你立刻过来。
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More general words
一下儿
A1a bit, a moment
点儿
A1a little bit
有点儿
A1a little, somewhat (negative connotation)
一下
A2A bit; a moment (used after a verb).
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
大约
B1Used to show that a number or amount is not exact; approximately.
上边
A2above, on top
上面
A1on, above, over
