连忙 和 赶紧
at once; hurriedly: 连忙 tells what someone did, 赶紧 can also urge
Structure
（叙述）主语 连忙 动作 ／ （叙述或催促）赶紧 动作
What it means
Both mean “at once, hurriedly”. 连忙 only tells what someone did; 赶紧 can also urge someone or announce a plan.
How it is built
Subject + 连忙／赶紧 + action: 看到长辈进来，他连忙站了起来 (seeing his elders come in, he quickly stood up). Urging: 快下雨了，你赶紧回家吧 (it’s about to rain; hurry home).
When to use it
连忙 narrates a quick reaction to what just happened; 急忙 behaves the same. 赶紧 narrates, urges (赶紧吃吧) or plans (我得赶紧走了); 赶快 is a close cousin.
Watch out
连忙 cannot tell someone to hurry: ✗ 你连忙走吧。 ✓ 你赶紧走吧。
Examples
看到长辈进来，他连忙站了起来。
Seeing his elders come in, he quickly got to his feet.
阿姨连忙说：“来就来吧，还带什么东西！”
Auntie said at once, “Coming is enough. Why bring anything?”
快下雨了，你赶紧回家吧。
It is about to rain; hurry home.
Learn this in Lesson 36 · HSK 5–6: 去朋友家做客 (Visiting a Chinese home)
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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