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速やか (すみやか, sumiyaka) Japanese meaning: quick | Kotomora

速すみやか

す

み

や

か

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

quick; speedy; prompt

Describes something done without delay, often with a nuance of proper, timely action. Common in formal or written contexts.

問もん題だいが発はっ生せいし

たら

、

速すみ

やか

に

対たい

応おう

し

て

ください

。

If a problem occurs, please respond promptly.

速すみやかなご返へん信しんありがとうございます。

Thank you for your swift reply.

Usage patterns

速すみやかに〈動どう詞し〉to do something promptly/without delay
地じ震しんが起おきたら速すみやかに避ひ難なんしてください。
If an earthquake occurs, please evacuate promptly.
速すみやかな〈事こと〉prompt (response/action/handling of a matter)
会かい社しゃは速すみやかな対たい応おうを求もとめられた。
The company was required to respond promptly.
〈事こと〉を速すみやかに解かい決けつするto resolve a matter promptly
担たん当とう者しゃはその問もん題だいを速すみやかに解かい決けつした。
The person in charge resolved the problem promptly.
〈事こと〉を速すみやかに報ほう告こくするto report something promptly
事じ故こが発はっ生せいしたら速すみやかに報ほう告こくしてください。
If an accident occurs, please report it promptly.

Expressions

可か及きゅう的てき速すみやかにas soon as possible; ASAP

Kanji

速quick, fast

Related words· 6

早はやいN5
早い is a general word for 'fast' or 'early' in everyday speech, while 速やか is a formal word emphasizing prompt, proper action without delay.
迅じん速そくN1
迅速 and 速やか are both formal written terms for swiftness, but 迅速 stresses sheer speed while 速やか stresses timeliness and appropriateness of the action.
早そう急きゅうN1
早急 emphasizes urgency and the need to act immediately, whereas 速やか emphasizes doing something smoothly and promptly once it begins.
至し急きゅうN2
速やか describes an action being done promptly and smoothly, while 至急 emphasizes the urgency and pressure to act without delay.

Show 2 more

急きゅう速そくN2
速やか describes doing something promptly and without delay (often of an action to be taken), while 急速 describes the swift pace of a change or process itself.
即そく時じ
速やか emphasizes doing something promptly and smoothly, while 即時 stresses that there is zero delay, as in real-time systems.

Opposites

遅おそいN5
遅い means 'slow' or 'late', the direct opposite of 速やか's sense of prompt, without-delay action.

Don't confuse with

早はやいN5
速い shares the kanji 速 with 速やか and both relate to speed, but 速い describes physical quickness of motion while 速やか describes the promptness of an action or response, often in formal contexts.

Written forms

速すみやかUsage82%
Standard kanji spelling; high priority.
すみやかUsage18%

Etymology

The word is composed of 速 (speed) and the adjectival suffix やか, which forms na-adjectives. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it has been used since classical Japanese.