How to Use “立刻(lì kè)” and “马上(mǎ shàng)”
Teacher: Vikki Lv Experience: 4 years
Vikki loves to fill her classes with fun content and content about Chinese traditional culture. Her easygoing personality helps students to discover their own methods for learning and to grow in confidence. She is highly qualified and experienced, holding a master's degree in teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages and having taught Chinese for a number of years.
How to Use “立刻(lì kè)” and “马上(mǎ shàng)”
Teacher : Vikki Lv
立刻 and 马上：
Both these words have the meaning “immediately”, “at once”, or “right away”, and they are both used as adverbs of time. However, they have an important difference.立刻means “immediately”, “right away”, or “right now”, so it’s normally used in situations when the circumstances are very urgent.
Therefore, it contains a sort of command mood. So when something will happen or has to be done in the next second or next minute we use 立刻, but 马上is more used in situations that allow a short delay.
