Grammar Point:
In Chinese grammar, there are several words and phrases that can be used to express a sense of urgency or the need to do something quickly. Here are some commonly used expressions: 赶紧 gǎnjǐn, 赶快 gǎnkuài, 连忙 liánmáng, and 立刻 lìkè.
趕緊/赶紧 gǎnjǐn
It is often used in imperative sentences or statements to urge someone to take immediate action. It’s often used in a more casual or informal context in northern China.
你趕緊出門吧,不然會錯過面試你赶紧出门吧,不然会错过面试
You should hurry up and leave, or you will miss the interview.
趕緊說!你們到底做了什麼!赶紧说!你们到底做了什么!
Speak up! What have you guys done?
身體不舒服就趕緊回家去休息身体不舒服就赶紧回家去休息
If you’re not feeling well, you should go home and rest right away.
老闆要他趕緊去向客戶道歉老板要他赶紧去向客户道歉
The boss wants him to apologize to the customer promptly.
Note that it is very common to drop the subject ‘you’ in imperative sentences in Chinese.
趕快/赶快 gǎnkuài
It’s also commonly used in imperative sentences or statements in informal speech, especially in southern China and Taiwan.
你趕快告訴我,她到底跟你說了什麼?你赶快告诉我,她到底跟你说了什么?
Tell me quickly, what did she say to you?
趕快跟我走,這裡不安全赶快跟我走,这里不安全
Hurry up and come with me; this place isn’t safe.
已經很晚了,趕快去睡吧已经很晚了,赶快去睡吧
It’s already very late, you should go to sleep quickly.
敢快把錢拿出來,不然我就開槍了敢快把钱拿出来,不然我就开枪了
Quickly hand over the money, or I’ll shoot.
連忙/连忙 liánmáng
It is often used to describe actions in the past that were carried out promptly, , and it can be a bit more formal or literary in tone compared to 赶紧 gǎnjǐn and 赶快 gǎnkuài.
昨天發現家附近有人在辦喪事,所以經過時我連忙將頭轉開昨天发现家附近有人在办丧事,所以经过时我连忙将头转开
Yesterday, I noticed there was a funeral happening near my house, so when I passed by, I quickly turned my head away.
FYI
In Taiwan, there is a superstition that many elders remind their younger generations not to look inside when passing by a funeral procession or to avoid staring at the deceased in photographs. Some parents even instruct their children to close their eyes when passing by a house where a funeral is taking place. This is done out of fear of offending the deceased. Traditional superstitions suggest that looking directly at the deceased, especially in photographs, may bring bad luck and negatively affect one’s fortune and health.
突然下大雨,可是大家都沒帶傘,只好連忙找地方躲雨突然下大雨,可是大家都没带伞,只好连忙找地方躲雨
It suddenly started pouring rain, but nobody had umbrellas, so we had to hastily find shelter.
中國政府宣布了禁止明星們使用英文名字,所以很多人連忙改名中国政府宣布了禁止明星们使用英文名字,所以很多人连忙改名
The Chinese government has announced a ban on celebrities using English names, leading many people to quickly change their names.
他送到醫院時就已經沒了呼吸,儘管醫生連忙進行搶救,還是救不回來他送到医院时就已经没了呼吸,尽管医生连忙进行抢救,还是救不回来
When he was brought to the hospital, he had already stopped breathing. Despite the doctors’ immediate efforts to resuscitate him, they were unable to save him.
立刻 lìkè
It is suitable for more serious or urgent situations and can be used in both formal and informal contexts when a high level of urgency is required.
你到公司後立刻來我辦公室報告你到公司后立刻来我办公室报告
Once you arrive at the office, come to my office and report immediately.
因為他在台灣吸大麻,所以立刻被遣返回國因为他在台湾吸大麻,所以立刻被遣返回国
Because he was caught using marijuana in Taiwan, he was immediately deported back to his home country.
立刻閉上你的嘴!立刻闭上你的嘴!
Shut your mouth immediately!
一旦發生火災,要立刻報警一旦发生火灾,要立刻报警
In case of a fire, report it immediately.