当即

• Pinyin: dāng jí
• Hanzi breakdown: 当 = 彐 + 土 + 龙 (at, appropriate); 即 = 艮 + 卩 (at once, immediately)

Meaning

Immediately; at once. Indicates that an action was taken without any delay upon receiving information or a directive.

Used in formal written and spoken contexts to emphasise the immediacy of a response or decision. Stronger and more literary than 立刻 in written reports and official communications.

Examples

1. 接到紧急通知后，他当即决定取消原定行程。 After receiving the emergency notice, he immediately decided to cancel the originally planned trip.
2. 委员会当即通过了这项紧急预算方案。 The committee immediately approved this emergency budget plan.
3. 听到消息，她当即拨通了负责人的电话。 When she heard the news, she immediately dialed the phone number of the person in charge.

Usage Guide

Context: news, official, written

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 收到命令后，部队当即展开了搜救行动。(Upon receiving the order, the troops immediately launched the rescue operation.)
• 领导听取汇报后当即拍板，批准了该项目的立项申请。(After hearing the report, the leader made an immediate decision and approved the project proposal.)

Don't Say

• 我当即去超市了 — 当即 is too formal for trivial personal actions; use 马上 or 立刻 in casual speech

Origin & History

当 (at the time) + 即 (at once)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal