すぐさま

す

ぐ

さ

ま

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

adverb

immediately; right away; promptly

usually written using kana alone

Emphasizes doing something without delay, often in response to a situation. Slightly more emphatic than すぐ.

彼かれは呼よばれるとすぐさま立たち上あがった。
He stood up immediately when called.
問もん題だいが起おきたらすぐさま報ほう告こくしてください。
Please report it right away if a problem occurs.

Usage patterns

すぐさま〈動どう詞し〉to do something immediately/right away
彼かれはすぐさま立たち上あがって走はしり出だした。
He immediately stood up and started running.
すぐさま返へん事じをするto reply right away
メールを送おくると、すぐさま返へん事じが来きた。
As soon as I sent the email, I got an immediate reply.
すぐさま駆かけつけるto rush to the scene immediately
事じ故この知しらせを聞きいて、警けい察さつはすぐさま駆かけつけた。
On hearing about the accident, the police rushed there immediately.

Kanji

直straightaway, honesty, frankness
様Esq., way, manner

Related words

すぐN4
すぐ is the basic, everyday word for 'soon/immediately', while すぐさま is more emphatic and stresses an instant reaction to something.
直ただちにN3
直ちに is formal and typical of official or written instructions, whereas すぐさま is neutral and common in everyday speech.
即そく座ざにN1
即座に highlights an instantaneous response with almost no thinking time, similar in force to すぐさま but slightly more literary.
早さっ速そくN3
早速 often implies taking prompt action after receiving something (a request, gift, etc.), while すぐさま is more general and reaction-focused.

Written forms

すぐさまUsage99%
Kana spelling is standard; usually written in kana.
直すぐさまUsage1%
Kanji spelling is rare and mostly seen in older or formal writing; kana is preferred.
直すぐ様さま
Alternate kanji spelling; very rare.
すぐ様さま
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; rare.

Etymology

Compound of すぐ (immediately) + さま (suffix indicating state or direction). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it functions as an emphatic adverbial form.