Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Instantly" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "instantly", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
とっさに
とっさに (tossani)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
たちまち
たちまち (tachimachi)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "instantly" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between とっさに and たちまち.
In Japanese, とっさに (とっさに (tossani)) is typically associated with "instantly, on the spur of the moment, reflexively" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Describes an action taken immediately and instinctively in response to an unexpected event or stimulus..
On the other hand, たちまち (たちまち (tachimachi)) maps to "instantly; in a moment; at once; suddenly" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Expresses that something happened very quickly, almost immediately. Often used for sudden changes or rapid progression.. A literal translation of "instantly" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "とっさに"
ボールが飛んできたので、とっさに顔をそむけた。
A ball flew towards me, so I instinctively turned my face away.
Bilingual Context for "たちまち"
雨が降り出すと、たちまち道路は水浸しになった。
As soon as it started raining, the road instantly became flooded.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "ボールが飛んできたので、 ＿＿＿ 顔をそむけた。" (Meaning: "A ball flew towards me, so I instinctively turned my face away.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "とっさに" fits here because it means "instantly, on the spur of the moment, reflexively" in the context of: "A ball flew towards me, so I instinctively turned my face away.". "たちまち" represents "instantly; in a moment; at once; suddenly".