“ima sugu・sugu ni・tadachi ni”: Right Away / Immediately [JLPT N4]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
Comparing adverbs of immediate action
“ima sugu・sugu ni・tadachi ni”: Right Away / Immediately
These adverbs all mean “do it immediately,” but differ in formality and setting: すぐに = the everyday all-purpose “right away”; 今すぐ = stresses “this very moment” (urgent); ただちに = the most formal, for emergency announcements and orders. E.g. 「地震です。ただちに避難してください」 (Earthquake — evacuate immediately).
🧠 Core nuance: “immediately” with near-zero delay
All three mean “act with no delay.” The difference is register and urgency: すぐに is neutral and everyday, 今すぐ is more urgent (right this instant), and ただちに is the most formal and grave (broadcasts, official documents, emergency directives). Choose right and the formality fits — say すぐ行く to a friend, ただちに避難 in a broadcast.
📌 Formality and Usage
| Adverb | Formality / Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| すぐ（に） | everyday all-purpose | すぐに行きます |
| 今すぐ | “right now” (urgent) | 今すぐやめて |
| ただちに | most formal (emergency/notice) | ただちに中止する |
| さっそく | “set to it at once” (proactive) | さっそく始めよう |
💬 Example Sentences
- すぐに行くから、待ってて。(I'll be right there, wait.) — everyday
- 今すぐこの作業をやめてください。(Please stop this task right now.) — urgent
- 地震です。ただちに高台へ避難してください。(Earthquake — evacuate to high ground immediately.) — emergency notice
- 問題が起きたら、ただちに報告すること。(If a problem arises, report immediately.) — formal directive
- 連絡をもらって、さっそく返事を書いた。(I got the message and replied right away.) — proactive
🔄 Compare: すぐ vs 今すぐ vs ただちに vs もうすぐ
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| すぐ（に） | everyday “right away” | すぐ来る |
| 今すぐ | “this instant” (more urgent) | 今すぐ来て |
| ただちに | formal/emergency “immediately” | ただちに避難 |
| もうすぐ | “soon / about to” (not yet happened) | もうすぐ着く |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- ただちに in casual chat: it's too formal; with friends it sounds odd — use すぐ.
- もうすぐ for “do it now”: もうすぐ is “about to (happen),” not “go do it immediately.”
- すぐ for emergencies sounds casual: formal emergency directives are more fitting with ただちに.
- Overusing 今すぐ: it carries urgency/pressure; for a plain “right away,” すぐに is enough.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
For these “immediately” adverbs, register matters: daily conversation uses すぐに; to stress “right now,” 今すぐ; for formal, emergency, or announcement settings, ただちに is most fitting. Emergency broadcast 「ただちに避難」 vs friend's 「すぐ行く」 — same “right away,” different word by setting. Master this formality spectrum for precise expression. A must at N4.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- Common at N4: distinguishing すぐに/今すぐ/ただちに by formality and scene.
- Must distinguish: the すぐ family (act now) vs もうすぐ (about to / soon).
- Emergency/formal directives use ただちに; everyday uses すぐに.
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「地震です。___高台へ避難してください。」（正式緊急廣播）
(A) ただちに (B) そろそろ (C) わざわざ (D) たまに
Q2. 「___行くから、待ってて。」（我馬上去）日常最自然?
(A) すぐに (B) ただちに (C) いずれ (D) そのうち
Q3. 「ただちに」が最も合う場面は?
(A) 正式・緊急的公告或指示
(B) 朋友間的閒聊
(C) 撒嬌
(D) 道歉
Q4. 「今すぐ」の語感は?
(A) 強調「現在・此刻馬上」(帶急迫)
(B) 過一陣子
(C) 偶爾
(D) 永遠不
Q5. 最も書面・正式なのは?
(A) ただちに (B) すぐ (C) もうすぐ (D) そろそろ
答案解析
1. (A) ただちに ── 緊急廣播用最正式的ただちに。
2. (A) すぐに ── 日常會話最自然。
3. (A) ── ただちに＝正式・緊急。
4. (A) ── 今すぐ＝現在此刻馬上。
5. (A) ただちに ── 最書面正式。