及时 vs 立刻: what is the difference?
立刻 means at once. 及时 means before it is too late, so 他及时到了 says he made it, not that he rushed.
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 及时 | jí shí | In time, meaning the action is done before it is too late. | 及时 + verb; verb + 得 + 很及时 |
| 立刻 | lì kè | Immediately, with no delay at all. | subject + 立刻 + verb |
及时 (jí shí)
In time, meaning the action is done before it is too late.
Structure: 及时 + verb; verb + 得 + 很及时
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 幸好医生来得很及时。 | Xìng hǎo yī shēng lái de hěn jí shí. | Luckily the doctor came just in time. |
| 请及时把作业交给老师。 | Qǐng jí shí bǎ zuò yè jiāo gěi lǎo shī. | Please hand your homework to the teacher on time. |
| 他及时赶到了车站，没有误车。 | Tā jí shí gǎn dào le chē zhàn, méi yǒu wù chē. | He reached the station in time and did not miss the bus. |
Not: 老师叫你，你及时过去。 及时 means in time, not at once; say 立刻 for 'right away'.
立刻 (lì kè)
Immediately, with no delay at all.
Structure: subject + 立刻 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 听到电话响，他立刻跑过去。 | Tīng dào diàn huà xiǎng, tā lì kè pǎo guò qù. | Hearing the phone ring, he ran over at once. |
| 如果不舒服，请立刻告诉我。 | Rú guǒ bù shū fu, qǐng lì kè gào su wǒ. | If you feel unwell, tell me right away. |
| 她一看到我就立刻笑了。 | Tā yí kàn dào wǒ jiù lì kè xiào le. | The moment she saw me she smiled. |
Not: 他立刻慢慢地走了。 立刻 means no delay, so it clashes with 慢慢地.
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Time adverbs: 渐渐/逐渐/及时/立刻 (HSK 4) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 按照 vs 根据 · 不敢 vs 不能 · 记住 vs 记得 · 渐渐 vs 逐渐 · 将近 vs 大约 · 竟然 vs 居然 · 既然 vs 因为 · 看不懂 vs 没看懂 · 了 vs 过 · 连…都 vs 连…也 · 没有 vs 不如 · 却 vs 但是 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 及时 and 立刻?
立刻 means at once. 及时 means before it is too late, so 他及时到了 says he made it, not that he rushed.
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