HSK 5
Correct
马上 vs 立刻
/ mǎshàng vs lìkè /
Strokes
Formula
1
马上 + 就
2
立刻 + 就
3
不会 + 马上（立刻）
4
不能/不可能/不可以 + 马上（立刻）
Definition
马上 and 立刻 both are Adverbs, means [imediately; at once], used to indicate something is about to happen.
马上 HSK 3
立刻 HSK 5
Example
马上 and 立刻, both Adverbs mean "something happen very quickly", the two words are interchangeable.
马上 + 就
立刻 + 就
1
Tā
他
yī
一
shuō
说
,
wǒ
我
mǎshàng
马上
(
lìkè
立刻
)
jiù
就
míngbai
明白
le
了
。
I understood as soon as he talked to me.
2
Yī
一
tídào
提到
zúqiú
足球
,
tā
他
mǎshàng
马上
(
lìkè
立刻
)
jiù
就
hěn
很
xīngfèn
兴奋
。
He becomes excited as soon as talking about football.
马上 is often used in oral Chinese; 立刻 is often used in written Chinese.
3
Mǎshàng
马上
jiùyào
就要
xiàyǔ
下雨
le
了
,
kuài
快
zǒu
走
bā
吧
。
It's going to rain soon, let's go quickly.
4
Jiēdào
接到
xiāoxi
消息
hòu
后
,
tā
他
lìkè
立刻
gǎnwǎng
赶往
huǒchēzhàn
火车站
。
He went to the train station as soon as he received the news.
Sometimes 马上 means "in the nearest future"; 立刻 indicates something is about to happen right away.
马上 indicates the speaker feels something is about to happen, but in fact, it may still take a long time for the event to take place.
5
Wǒmen
我们
lìkè
立刻
jiù
就
dòngshēn
动身
。
We'll set out at once.
6
Tā
她
yǐjīng
已经
kǎoshàng
考上
le
了
dàxué
大学
,
mǎshàng
马上
jiùyào
就要
qù
去
bàodào
报到
le
了
。
She has been admitted by a university, and is about to register there.
7
Zhège
这个
chéngshì
城市
de
的
miànmào
面貌
mǎshàng
马上
jiù
就
huì
会
fāshēng
发生
hěn
很
dà
大
de
的
biànhuà
变化
。
The city will change greatly soon.
马上 and 立刻, their negative forms.
不会 + 马上（立刻）
不能/不可能/不可以 + 马上（立刻）
8
Wǒ
我
bùhuì
不会
mǎshàng
马上
(
lìkè
立刻
)
zǒu
走
。
I won't leave soon.
9
Wǒmen
我们
bù
不
kěnéng
可能
mǎshàng
马上
(
lìkè
立刻
)
jiù
就
xuéhuì
学会
hànyǔ
汉语
。
It is impossible for us to master Chinese at once.
Mistake
Fill in the blanks with 马上 or 立刻:
1. 喜讯（ ）就传遍了祖国各地。
2. 坚持住我们（ ）来救你。
3. 他们（ ）营救出了被困人员。
4. 他的头重重地撞到了墙上，（ ）就晕了过去。
5. 吃了这种毒药，老鼠（ ）就会死。
6. 小宝宝（ ） 就要长牙了。
7. 医生（ ）为他做手术。
8. 你的儿子（ ）就要比你高了。