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即刻 (そっこく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

即そっ刻こく

そ

っ

こ

く

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

immediately; at once; instantly

Emphasizes promptness without delay; often used in official or serious contexts such as orders, decisions, or responses.

違い反はん

者しゃ

は

即そっ

刻こく

退たい

場じょう

さ

せ

ます

。

Violators will be removed immediately.

問もん題だいが発はっ覚かくしたため、計けい画かくは即そっ刻こく中ちゅう止しされた。

The plan was halted instantly when the problem came to light.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉を即そっ刻こく中ちゅう止しするto immediately stop/cancel something
問もん題だいが発はっ覚かくし、工こう事じを即そっ刻こく中ちゅう止しした。
When the problem came to light, they immediately halted the construction work.
〈場ば所しょ〉を即そっ刻こく退たい去きょするto leave a place immediately (usually under order)
警けい察さつは不ふ法ほう占せん拠きょ者しゃに建たて物ものを即そっ刻こく退たい去きょするよう命めいじた。
The police ordered the squatters to vacate the building immediately.
〈事こと〉に即そっ刻こく対たい応おうするto respond to something immediately
会かい社しゃは苦く情じょうに即そっ刻こく対たい応おうすることを約やく束そくした。
The company promised to respond to complaints immediately.

Kanji

即instant, namely, as is
刻engrave, cut fine, chop

Related words· 7

直ただちにN3
直ちに and 即刻 are both formal words for 'immediately', but 即刻 carries a stronger sense of urgency or punitive decisiveness, often in commands or penalties.
至し急きゅうN2
至急 stresses that something is urgently needed and must be handled fast, while 即刻 stresses that it must happen with zero delay, often as an order.
早さっ速そくN3
早速 is a mild, everyday word for doing something promptly after being asked, whereas 即刻 is formal and implies no delay is tolerated at all.
すぐN4
すぐ is a casual, everyday word for 'soon' or 'right away', while 即刻 is far more formal and is typically used in official announcements or commands.

Show 3 more

即そく時じ
即刻 is more emphatic and typically used in urgent commands or announcements, while 即時 is neutral and common in technical or procedural descriptions.
即そく座ざN1
即刻 is an adverb carrying a sense of urgency or command ('at once'), whereas 即座 is more neutral and descriptive of a quick, on-the-spot reaction.
すかさずN1
即刻 is a stiff, often official word for 'at once' (e.g. orders to act immediately), while すかさず describes a nimble personal reaction.

Don't confuse with

即そっ決けつ
即決 means to make a decision on the spot, while 即刻 means to carry out an action immediately, so 即決 is about deciding fast and 即刻 is about acting fast.

Etymology

Compound of 即 (instant) and 刻 (time/moment), literally meaning 'at this very moment'.