On time and ASAP in Chinese

Grammar Point:
The Chinese words 按時时 ànshí and 儘尽快 jǐnkuài are employed to convey various aspects of time management. 按時时 ànshí means “on time” in English, while 儘尽快 jǐnkuà translates to “as soon as possible” in English.

Structure

On Time – ànshí

It is an adverb used to indicate punctuality or performing tasks according to a scheduled or expected time.

請qǐng你nǐ務必wùbì按時ànshí完成wánchéng這個zhège項目xiàngmù请qǐng你nǐ务必wùbì按时ànshí完成wánchéng这个zhège项目xiàngmù
Please be sure to complete this project on time.

請qǐng在zài每měi個ge月yuè的de5 日rì按時ànshí把bǎ房租fángzū給gěi我wǒ请qǐng在zài每měi个ge月yuè的de5 日rì按时ànshí把bǎ房租fángzū给gěi我wǒ
Please pay the rent to me on the 5th of each month.

老闆lǎobǎn從不cóngbù按時ànshí開會kāihuì老板lǎobǎn从不cóngbù按时ànshí开会kāihuì
The boss never holds meetings on time.

員工yuángōng應該yīnggāi按時ànshí上班shàngbān， 但dàn不bù應該yīnggāi按時ànshí下班xiàbān员工yuángōng应该yīnggāi按时ànshí上班shàngbān， 但dàn不bù应该yīnggāi按时ànshí下班xiàbān
Employees should arrive on time, but they should not leave on time.

你nǐ為什麼wèishénme不bú按時ànshí吃飯chīfàn呢ne？ 活該huógāi胃痛wèitòng你nǐ为什么wèishénme不bú按时ànshí吃饭chīfàn呢ne？ 活该huógāi胃痛wèitòng
Why don’t you eat on time? You deserve to have a stomachache now.

FYI
Confucius believed that every living thing, whether animal or plant, follows its own growth cycle. Eating before it’s time is like going against the natural order. Also, eating food that’s not from where you are is seen as not being in tune with the times. Another part of being in tune with the times is eating meals at the right times. If you have your three meals a day on time, the food tastes better. But if you eat off schedule, like only having a late-night snack instead of dinner, skipping breakfast and only having lunch, or just having fruits and veggies for dinner, it’s considered not being in tune with the times. Eating this way not only affects the taste but can also cause stomach problems, making your appetite worse.

Notes: 按時时 ànshí and 準准時时 zhǔnshí are both Chinese expressions related to time, but they have slight differences in usage. 按時时 ànshí emphasizes adherence to the scheduled time and is used for actions or events that occur at the expected or planned time. On the other hand, 準准時时 zhǔnshí is used to describe people or things that are consistently punctual, arriving at the scheduled time.

ASAP (As Soon As Possible) – jǐnkuài

It’s also an adverb used when emphasizing urgency or the need for prompt action.

我wǒ會huì儘快jǐnkuài回覆huífù你的nǐde郵件yóujiàn我wǒ会huì尽快jǐnkuài回覆huífù你的nǐde邮件yóujiàn
I will reply to your email as soon as possible.

我們wǒmen需要xūyào儘快jǐnkuài安排ānpái會議huìyì時間shíjiān我们wǒmen需要xūyào尽快jǐnkuài安排ānpái会议huìyì时间shíjiān
We need to schedule a meeting time as soon as possible.

這zhè件jiàn事情shìqíng非常fēicháng重要zhòngyào， 請qǐng你nǐ儘快jǐnkuài處理chǔlǐ这zhè件jiàn事情shìqing非常fēicháng重要zhòngyào， 请qǐng你nǐ尽快jǐnkuài处理chǔlǐ
This matter is very important, please handle it as soon as possible.

請qǐng你nǐ儘快jǐnkuài把bǎ那nà份fèn報告bàogào做完zuòwán请qǐng你nǐ尽快jǐnkuài把bǎ那nà份fèn报告bàogào做完zuòwán
Please finish that report as soon as you can.

你nǐ能néng儘快jǐnkuài給gěi我wǒ弄nòng個ge炒飯chǎofàn嗎ma？ 我wǒ趕時間gǎnshíjiān你nǐ能néng尽快jǐnkuài给gěi我wǒ弄nòng个ge炒饭chǎofàn吗ma？ 我wǒ赶时间gǎnshíjiān
Can you make fried rice for me as soon as possible? I’m in a hurry.

Notes: In Taiwan, it’s common to see people using 盡快 jìnkuài to mean 儘尽快 jǐnkuài, even though in classical Chinese, the two phrases don’t match perfectly in meaning. However, due to widespread and frequent use in modern times, the lines between these two expressions have become quite blurry.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ I just want to leave here as soon as possible.

我wǒ只zhǐ想xiǎng儘快jǐnkuài離開líkāi這裡zhèlǐ我wǒ只zhǐ想xiǎng尽快jǐnkuài离开líkāi这里zhèlǐ

✔️ Take this medicine with three meals a day on time.

這個zhège藥yào， 一日yírì三餐sāncān按時ànshí吃chī这个zhège药yào， 一日yírì三餐sāncān按时ànshí吃chī

✔️ Your package will arrive on time in three days.

您nín的de包裹bāoguǒ會huì在zài3 日rì後hòu按時ànshí到達dàodá您nín的de包裹bāoguǒ会huì在zài3 日rì后hòu按时ànshí到达dàodá