JLPT · Level 23
75 words
Japanese word
とっさに
Pronunciation
Romajitossani
Meaning
- adverbimmediately
Example
熱くて、とっさに手を引きました。atsu ku te to ssa ni te o hi ki ma shi ta
It was hot, so I immediately pulled my hand back.
More examples
先生に急に指名されても、彼はとっさに答えられました。sen sei ni kyū ni shi mei sa re te mo kare wa to ssa ni kota e ra re ma shi ta
Even when the teacher called on him unexpectedly, he was able to answer immediately.
Core concept
Marks an action as happening at once, often as an instinctive response before deliberate thought.
Common phrases
とっさに答えるto ssa ni kota e ru
answer immediately
とっさに判断するto ssa ni han dan su ru
make an immediate decision
Similar words
すぐにsuguni: Marks an action as happening without delay or after only a short time.
即座にsokuzani: Marks an action as happening at once, with no time for delay.
直ちにtadachini: Marks an action as happening at once, especially in a formal or urgent context.
Definition in Japanese
突然の事態に直面して、考える間もなくすぐに行動するさま。totsu zen no ji tai ni choku men shi te kanga e ru ma mo na ku su gu ni kō dō su ru sa ma
Word origin
As a Sino-Japanese expression, 咄嗟 (tossa, "an instant") comes from Classical Chinese and combines 咄 (totsu, "to exclaim") with 嗟 (sa, "to sigh"); Japanese adds に (ni) to form the adverb.
Usage tips
- Unlike すぐに (sugu ni), とっさに (tossa ni) often signals that a response happens before conscious planning, like a reflex.
Other meanings
- instinctivelyadverb