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立刻

lì kè
HSK 2.0 Level 5 HSK 3.0 Level 5 Adverb Common

Definitions

  1. 1. forthwith
  2. 2. immediate
  3. 3. prompt
  4. 4. promptly
  5. 5. straightway
  6. 6. thereupon
  7. 7. at once

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Word relationships

Register variants

1 item
立即
lì jí

immediately

立刻 is more spoken, 立即 is formal/written.

Related words

2 items
顿时
dùn shí

immediately

顿时 means 'suddenly' and is used for past events.
突然
tū rán

sudden; abrupt; unexpected

突然 means 'suddenly', while 立刻 means 'immediately'.

Synonyms

1 item
马上
mǎ shàng

at once

Both mean 'immediately', but 马上 is more colloquial.

Usage notes

Collocations

Commonly paired with 就 in structures like 立刻就 to emphasize immediacy.

Common mistakes

Do not use 立刻 in negative commands; it is rarely used with 不 or 没.

Grammar

Guides that feature 立刻

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1 guide
HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 5+ 7 min
Time Adverbs 曾经, 早已, 时刻, 立刻, 连忙 and 急忙

Talk about what you once did with 曾经, what happened long ago with 早已, what you always keep in mind with 时刻, and how fast someone acts with 立刻, 连忙 and 急忙.

Reading: lì kè Open guide

Example Sentences

5 shown
他 立刻 转移了话题。
He immediately changed the subject.
我巴不得 立刻 见到你。
I can't wait to see you immediately.
他们要我 立刻 回答。
They demanded that I answer immediately.
他命令我们 立刻 出发。
He ordered us to set off immediately.
情况急迫，我们必须 立刻 行动。
The situation is urgent; we must act immediately.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 立刻

刻
kè

quarter (hour)

立
lì

to stand