Immediately in Chinese

Grammar Point:
馬马上 mǎshàng is an adverb in Chinese that translates to “immediately” or “right away” in English. It conveys a sense of urgency and suggests that something will happen or be done without delay.

Structure

馬上/马上 + V

FYI
Ever wondered why we say 馬马上 mǎshàng (on the horse) in Chinese to mean “immediately” instead of “on the ox” or “on the tiger?”
Well, it all has to do with ancient transportation methods. Back in the day, riding horses was the fastest and most popular way to get around. If you were already “on a horse,” it meant you were prepared and ready to go. So, when someone said “馬马上,” it meant they were all set and could take off on their horse right away.

他tā馬上mǎshàng回來huílái他tā马上mǎshàng回来huílái
He will come back immediately.

我們wǒmen馬上mǎshàng出發chūfā吧ba！ 我们wǒmen马上mǎshàng出发chūfā吧ba！
Let’s leave right away!

請qǐng馬上mǎshàng給gěi我wǒ答復dáfù请qǐng马上mǎshàng给gěi我wǒ答复dáfù
Please respond to me immediately.

這個zhège問題wèntí我wǒ馬上mǎshàng就jiù能néng解决jiějué这个zhège问题wèntí我wǒ马上mǎshàng就jiù能néng解决jiějué
I can solve this problem right away.

我們wǒmen馬上mǎshàng要yào開會kāihuì了le我们wǒmen马上mǎshàng要yào开会kāihuì了le
We are about to have a meeting very soon.

要yào想xiǎng成功chénggōng， 我們wǒmen必須bìxū馬上mǎshàng開始kāishǐ行動xíngdòng要yào想xiǎng成功chénggōng， 我们wǒmen必须bìxū马上mǎshàng开始kāishǐ行动xíngdòng
To succeed, we must start taking action immediately.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ I went to bed immediately after I got home.

我wǒ回家huíjiā後hòu馬上mǎshàng睡覺shuìjiào我wǒ回家huíjiā后hòu马上mǎshàng睡觉shuìjiào

✔️ He reads Chinese books and immediately feels tired.

他tā看kàn中文zhōngwén書shū， 馬上mǎshàng覺得juéde累lèi他tā看kàn中文zhōngwén书shū， 马上mǎshàng觉得juéde累lèi

✔️ He immediately gave up learning Chinese.

他tā馬上mǎshàng放棄fàngqì學xué中文zhōngwén他tā马上mǎshàng放弃fàngqì学xué中文zhōngwén