じきに

• Reading: じきに
• Romaji: jikini
• Pronunciation: /dʑi.ki.ni/

Meaning

Soon; before long; shortly. Indicates something will happen in the near future.

An adverb meaning something will happen shortly. Slightly more mature or literary in tone compared to すぐに, and often preferred by older speakers or in narrative writing. The particle に can sometimes be dropped (じき来る), but じきに is the standard form. Can also be written as 直に in kanji, though the hiragana form is far more common.

Examples

1. じきに春が来るから楽しみにしている。 I'm looking forward to it because spring will be here before long.
2. 心配しなくてもじきに慣れるよ。 Don't worry — you'll get used to it soon enough.
3. 電車はじきに到着するとアナウンスがあった。 An announcement came over the PA that the train would be arriving shortly.

Usage Guide

Context: daily conversation, narrative writing, reassurance

Tone: calm

Origin & History

From the kanji 直 (jiki, direct/immediately). The original meaning of 'directly' shifted to 'soon' over time, reflecting the idea that something will happen without much intervening time.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal