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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing immediately with 立刻 (lìkè)

    Degree & Intensity
    Time Expressions

    Structure

    Subject + 立刻 + Verb Phrase

    Explanation

    立刻 (lìkè) means "immediately," "at once," or "right away" and indicates that an action happens without any delay. It is placed before a verb to emphasize urgency or promptness. It is interchangeable with 马上 in most contexts but sounds slightly more formal.

    Examples

    • 听到消息后，她立刻赶到了医院。

      Tīng dào xiāoxī hòu, tā lìkè gǎn dào le yīyuàn.

      After hearing the news, she rushed to the hospital immediately.

    • 地震发生时，所有人立刻跑出了大楼。

      Dìzhèn fāshēng shí, suǒyǒu rén lìkè pǎo chū le dàlóu.

      When the earthquake struck, everyone immediately ran out of the building.

    • 老板要求我们立刻停止这个项目。

      Lǎobǎn yāoqiú wǒmen lìkè tíngzhǐ zhège xiàngmù.

      The boss demanded that we stop this project immediately.

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    Expressing immediately with 立刻 (lìkè) | Chinese Grammar