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
忽ち
たちまち (tachimachi)
N1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "instantly" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between とっさに and 忽ち.
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, 忽ち (たちまち (tachimachi)) maps to "instantly; in a moment; suddenly; immediately" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents Indicates something happening very quickly or suddenly, almost without any time passing. 非常に短い時間で物事が起こる、瞬く間に変化する様子を表します。. 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 "忽ち"
彼の言葉に、それまで騒がしかった会場が忽ち静まり返った。
At his words, the noisy venue instantly fell silent.
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.". "忽ち" represents "instantly; in a moment; suddenly; immediately".