即

• Reading: そく
• Romaji: soku
• Kanji breakdown: 即 (immediate/instant) → used as a prefix or standalone to convey acting without any hesitation
• Pronunciation: /so.ku/

Meaning

Instantly — used as a prefix or standalone word to emphasise doing something immediately without hesitation.

In slang, 即 functions as a punchy prefix or standalone intensifier meaning 'without a moment's delay.' Common compounds include 即買い (instant buy), 即ブロ (instant block), 即レス (instant reply), and 即決 (snap decision). As a standalone reaction, 即 conveys that the decision or action was so obvious it required zero deliberation. Popular in online shopping culture and social media.

Examples

1. このスニーカー見た瞬間即買いした。 I bought these sneakers the second I saw them — instant cop.
2. 変なDM来たから即ブロした。 Got a weird DM so I instantly blocked them.
3. 推しのグッズは即ポチ一択でしょ。 When my fave drops merch, it's instant buy — no question.

Usage Guide

Context: social media, friends, online shopping

Tone: decisive, emphatic

Do Say

• このセール、即買いでしょ。 (This sale is an instant buy, right?)
• 即レスありがとう、助かった。 (Thanks for the instant reply, that helped.)

Don't Say

• ビジネスメールで「即」は砕けすぎ (Using soku as a prefix in business emails is too casual — use 直ちに or 即座に instead)

Common Mistakes

• Not knowing common compounds: 即買い (buy), 即ブロ (block), 即レス (reply), 即フォロ (follow)
• Using 即 in formal writing — it is casual slang, not the same as the formal 即座に

Origin & History

From the kanji 即 meaning 'immediate/instant,' used in classical Japanese and Chinese compounds. The slang prefix usage became popular in the 2000s-2010s internet culture, especially in online shopping and social media contexts.

Cultural Context

Era: 2000s-2010s internet and shopping culture

Generation: Teens to 30s

Social background: Universal casual

Regional notes: Used across Japan. Especially common in online shopping, social media, and gaming contexts where speed of decision is valued.