立刻

• Pinyin: lì kè
• Hanzi breakdown: 立 = pictograph of a person standing on the ground; 刻 = 亥 (the last earthly branch) + 刂 (knife), originally meaning to carve a notch — a unit of time

Meaning

Immediately; at once; right away. Indicates something happens without any delay.

A very common time adverb meaning right away. Slightly more formal than 马上 (which is the most colloquial) but less formal than 立即. All three are largely interchangeable in most contexts. 立刻 emphasises that the action follows instantly after something else happens.

Examples

1. 听到这个消息，她立刻跑了出去。 Upon hearing the news, she immediately ran out.
2. 老师说完以后，大家立刻安静了。 After the teacher finished speaking, everyone immediately fell silent.
3. 你发现问题以后要立刻告诉我。 You must tell me right away when you find a problem.

Usage Guide

Context: urgency, narration, instructions

Tone: urgent

Do Say

• 请立刻把这个文件发给我。(Please send me this document immediately.)
• 他立刻回答了我的问题。(He answered my question right away.)

Don't Say

• 我立刻会去。(Don't add 会 after 立刻 — 立刻 already implies the action is about to happen now. Say 我立刻去.)

Origin & History

立 means to stand (upright, immediately); 刻 means a moment or an instant (originally a notch on a water clock). Together: standing in this instant — right now, immediately.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal