马上

mǎ shàng

HSK 2.0 Level 3 HSK 3.0 Level 3 Adverb Very common

Definitions

1. at once
2. right away
3. immediately
4. on horseback (i.e. by military force)

Word relationships

Related words

1 item

赶忙

gǎn máng

to hurry

used when someone hurries to do something

Synonyms

1 item

立刻

lì kè

forthwith

used when an action happens instantly

Usage notes

Common mistakes

马上 is more colloquial and urgent-sounding than 立刻; using 马上 in formal writing may sound too casual.

Cultural notes

Literally 'on horseback', reflecting ancient urgency; often used to mean 'right away' without actual horseback context.

Example Sentences

5 shown

火车马上就要到达北京了。

The train is about to arrive in Beijing.

我马上来。

I'll come right away.

她恨不得马上飞到北京去。

She wishes she could fly to Beijing right away.

她恨不得马上回家。

She wishes she could go home immediately.

他们要我马上付钱。

They demanded that I pay immediately.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 马上

走马上任

zǒu mǎ shàng rèn

(idiom) to take office; to assume a post

马上比武

mǎ shàng bǐ wǔ

tournament (contest in Western chivalry)

马上风

mǎ shàng fēng

death during sexual intercourse

Child Words of 马上

horse

on top