Translation guide
How to express giving an immediate reply in Japanese, covering quick responses, instant answers, and prompt replies in various contexts.
Expressing that someone replied immediately or without delay.
A natural and common way to say 'reply immediately'. すぐに means 'immediately', 返事 means 'reply', and をする is 'to do'.
彼はメールにすぐに返事をした。
He replied to the email immediately.
More formal/literary. 即座に means 'instantly', 返答 is 'reply'. Suitable for business or written contexts.
質問に即座に返答した。
He/she replied instantly to the question.
Casual spoken version of すぐに返事をする. Drops the particle に and uses the shorter する form.
ライン見たらすぐ返事するね。
I'll reply right away when I see your Line message.
Describing a reply that comes without any hesitation or thinking time.
Means 'to answer immediately' or 'to give an instant reply'. Often used when someone answers without pausing to think.
彼はその質問に即答した。
He answered the question instantly.
Literary/idiomatic: 'to answer without a hair's breadth of delay'. Very emphatic, used in narratives.
彼は間髪を入れずに答えた。
He answered without a moment's hesitation.
Expressing that a reply was given promptly, often in business or customer service contexts.
A set phrase meaning 'prompt reply'. Used in formal emails to thank someone for replying quickly. Often followed by ありがとうございます.
早速のご返信ありがとうございます。
Thank you for your prompt reply.
Means 'swift reply'. 迅速 is 'rapid/swift'. Used in formal contexts to describe or request a quick response.
迅速な返答をお願いします。
Please give us a prompt reply.
Referring to instant replies in messaging apps, chat, or social media.
Slang for 'read but ignored' (leaving someone on read). Implies a lack of immediate reply. Often used in negative contexts.
彼に既読スルーされた。
He read my message but didn't reply.
Slang abbreviation of 即レスポンス (instant response). Used among friends for quick replies in chat.
即レスありがとう！
Thanks for the instant reply!
返事 (へんじ) is the most general 'reply'. 返答 (へんとう) is slightly more formal, often for verbal answers. 返信 (へんしん) is specifically for written/digital replies like email or messages.
English 'immediate reply' can often be expressed with すぐに返事 or 即答, but in polite requests, 早急 (そうきゅう) or 迅速 (じんそく) are more natural than 即座.