もうすぐ

も

う

す

ぐ

JLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

expression, adverb

soon; shortly; before long; almost

usually written using kana alone

Common adverb indicating that something will happen in the near future or is nearly complete. Often used with verbs in the present or volitional form.

もうすぐ春はるですね。

Spring will be here soon, won't it?

もうすぐ終おわります。

It will be over shortly.

Kanji

直straightaway, honesty, frankness

Related words

すぐN4
すぐ means 'immediately, right away' with no waiting implied, while もうすぐ signals that something is about to happen after a short remaining wait.
まもなくN3
もうすぐ is casual and subjective, used in everyday speech, while まもなく is more formal and objective, common in announcements and writing.
そろそろN4
もうすぐ simply announces that something will happen soon, while そろそろ adds a nuance of 'the right moment is approaching' or subtle urging.
今いまにもN4
もうすぐ means 'soon' in a neutral sense about the passage of time, while 今にも stresses visible signs that something could happen at any moment.
近ちか々ぢかN2
もうすぐ emphasizes that something is about to happen very soon, whereas 近々 leaves the timing a bit vaguer, just 'sometime soon'.

Politeness

まもなくpolite 丁寧語N3
間もなく is the more formal, written/announcement-style equivalent of もうすぐ, which is the everyday spoken word.

Etymology

Combination of もう (already, soon) and すぐ (immediately). The kanji form 直ぐ is rarely used.