赶紧 · 赶快 · 立刻 · 连忙
hurry and…; at once
Structure
赶紧／赶快／立刻／连忙 + 动词
What it means
All four say something is done quickly. 赶紧 and 赶快 mean “hurry and…”, 立刻 means “immediately”, and 连忙 means someone hastily did something in reaction.
How it is built
Put the word right before the verb: 快下雨了，我们赶紧回家吧 (it’s about to rain, let’s hurry home). 电话一响，他立刻去接 (as soon as the phone rings, he answers it).
When to use it
赶紧 and 赶快 urge someone, or yourself, to hurry: 大家赶快坐好. 立刻 works in orders and in stories alike. 连忙 only reports what someone quickly did in response to something, so it belongs in stories.
Watch out
Never use 连忙 to tell someone what to do: ✗ 你连忙去。 ✓ 你赶快去。 In a story it is fine: 他听见电话响了，连忙去接。
Examples
快下雨了，我们赶紧回家吧。
It’s about to rain, let’s hurry home.
经理来了，大家赶快坐好。
The manager’s here: everyone sit down, quick.
电话一响，他立刻去接。
As soon as the phone rings, he goes to answer it.
看到经理，他连忙说：“经理好！”
When he saw the manager, he quickly greeted him: “Hello!”
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 4: 开会 (The weekly meeting)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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