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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.

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