Japanese word

直

Pronunciation

Romajijiki

Meaning

  • adverbsoon

Example

直に帰ります。jiki ni kae ri ma su

I will go home soon.

Illustration for 直 (soon)

More examples

駅に着いたら、直に電話します。eki ni tsu i ta ra jiki ni den wa shi ma su

I will call as soon as I arrive at the station.

Core concept

It presents the next event as following the present with almost no waiting.

Common phrases

  • 直に帰るjiki ni kae ru

    go home soon

  • 直に電話するjiki ni den wa su ru

    call soon

  • 直に出発するjiki ni shup patsu su ru

    leave soon

  • 直に知らせるjiki ni shi ra se ru

    tell someone soon

Similar words

すぐにsuguni: To indicate that something happens with almost no delay.
まもなくmamonaku: To indicate that something happens in the near future.
直ちにtadachini: To indicate that something happens immediately, with no delay.

Definition in Japanese

時間をあまり置かず、まもなく。ji kan o a ma ri o ka zu ma mo na ku

Word origin

The adverb 直に (jiki ni) uses the Sino-Japanese reading of 直 (jiki, "direct") with に (ni), an adverbial element, linking directness with an event occurring without delay.

Usage tips

  • In present-day conversation, 直に (jiki ni) can sound more formal or literary than the most casual way to say that an action happens soon.

Opposites

Word lists with this word