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Level Independent Chinese · HSK 3

一…就, 直到…才 and Hurry Words: 立刻, 马上, 赶紧, 连忙

These patterns pin down exactly when something happens relative to something else: immediately after, not until, right away. As with 就 and 才 at A2, they also tell you whether things went faster or slower than expected.

一…就…: as soon as

一 + first action, 就 + second action. Both go after their subjects. It also describes a reliable habit: whenever A, then B.

  • 我一到家就给你打电话。

    Wǒ yí dào jiā jiù gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà.

    I'll call you as soon as I get home.

  • 他一喝酒就脸红。

    Tā yì hē jiǔ jiù liǎn hóng.

    Whenever he drinks, he goes red.

直到…才…: not until

直到 (zhídào) + time or event + 才 + verb means it only happened at that late point. 直到现在…还没 means "still haven't, even now". Verb + 到 + time means "until": 聊到半夜.

  • 他直到十二点才回来。

    Tā zhídào shí'èr diǎn cái huílai.

    He didn't come back until midnight.

  • 直到现在我还没收到。

    Zhídào xiànzài wǒ hái méi shōudào.

    I still haven't received it, even now.

  • 我们聊到半夜。

    Wǒmen liáo dào bànyè.

    We chatted until midnight.

Right away: 立刻, 马上, 赶紧, 连忙

马上 (mǎshàng) is "right away" or "very soon". 立刻 (lìkè) is "immediately", more formal and more instant. 赶紧 / 赶快 (gǎnjǐn / gǎnkuài) is "hurry and ...", common in commands. 连忙 (liánmáng) is "hastily" and only narrates what someone did: it can't give a command.

WordCommands?Feel
马上yesright away, soon
立刻yesimmediately, formal
赶紧 / 赶快yeshurry up and
连忙nohastily (narration)

  • 你赶快走吧！

    Nǐ gǎnkuài zǒu ba!

    Hurry up and go!

  • 他看见老师，连忙站了起来。

    Tā kànjiàn lǎoshī, liánmáng zhàn le qǐlai.

    When he saw the teacher, he hurriedly stood up.

  • 收到通知后，请立刻回复。

    Shōudào tōngzhī hòu, qǐng lìkè huífù.

    Please reply immediately on receiving this notice.

Common mistakes

  • ✗我一到家，我给你打电话。

    ✓我一到家就给你打电话。

    Wǒ yí dào jiā jiù gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà.

    一 needs its partner 就 in the second half.

  • ✗你连忙走吧！

    ✓你赶紧走吧！

    Nǐ gǎnjǐn zǒu ba!

    连忙 only describes what someone did. For a command, use 赶紧 or 赶快.

  • ✗他直到十二点才回来了。

    ✓他直到十二点才回来。

    Tā zhídào shí'èr diǎn cái huílai.

    才 doesn't take 了.

Questions learners ask

Why is 一 sometimes yí and sometimes yì here?

It follows the tone of the next syllable: yí before a fourth tone (一到), yì before the others (一喝).

Is 马上 always immediate?

Not always. 我马上就到 can mean "I'll be there in a few minutes". 立刻 is more strictly immediate.

Practice this in lessons

The Independent Chinese lessons teach this step by step, with exercises and review built in.

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