とっさに

と

っ

さ

に

Common wordJLPTN1

Meanings

1

adverb

instantly; immediately; on the spur of the moment

usually written using kana alone

Describes a reaction or action taken without hesitation, often in response to a sudden situation. Can imply a reflexive or split-second decision.

とっさにブレーキを踏ふんだ

。

I hit the brakes instantly.

彼かれはとっさに嘘うそをついてしまった。

He lied on the spur of the moment.

Usage patterns

咄とっ嗟さに〈動どう詞し〉to do something instantly/reflexively
危き険けんを感かんじて咄とっ嗟さに手てを伸のばした。
Sensing danger, I instinctively reached out my hand.
咄とっ嗟さの〈事こと〉a split-second (decision/response)
咄とっ嗟さの判はん断だんで子こ供どもを助たすけることができた。
Thanks to a split-second decision, I was able to save the child.

Kanji

咄exclamation of surprise, cry out (in anger), scold
嗟lament, grieve, sigh

Related words

すぐにN5
すぐに is a general word for 'soon' or 'right away', while 咄嗟に emphasizes a reflexive, split-second reaction to an unexpected event.
即そく座ざにN1
即座に also means 'immediately', but is more formal and often describes a deliberate, prompt action rather than the instinctive reflex of 咄嗟に.

Opposites

ゆっくりN5
ゆっくり describes acting slowly and unhurriedly, the opposite of the split-second reflex captured by 咄嗟に.

Don't confuse with

思おもわずN3
思わず describes an unintentional reaction done before one realizes it, while 咄嗟に stresses the speed of a conscious split-second response to a situation.
とっくにN3
とっさに means 'instantly, on the spur of the moment', which is nearly the opposite timing nuance from とっくに ('long ago, well before now'), despite the similar sound.

Etymology

Derived from the noun 咄嗟 (とっさ), meaning 'a moment' or 'instant', combined with the particle に to form an adverbial phrase. The kanji are ateji and the word is usually written in kana.