さっと

adverb

quickly; swiftly; lightly

1. quickly; swiftly; in one smooth motion

Describes a quick, smooth action performed without hesitation.

さっと手(て)を洗(あら)った。

I quickly washed my hands.

彼(かれ)はさっと立(た)ち上(あ)がった。

He stood up swiftly.

猫(ねこ)がさっと逃(に)げた。

The cat darted away.

2. lightly; briefly

Describes doing something in a quick, light manner.

野菜(やさい)をさっと炒(いた)める。

Stir-fry the vegetables quickly.

さっと目(め)を通(とお)しただけだ。

I just skimmed through it quickly.

雨(あめ)がさっと降(ふ)ってすぐ止(や)んだ。

It rained briefly and stopped right away.

さっと describes quick, smooth, effortless action — done in one clean motion without hesitation or fuss.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

さっと読(よ)む: to skim through quickly
さっと済(す)ませる: to finish up quickly
さっと炒(いた)める: to stir-fry briefly
さっと目(め)を通(とお)す: to glance through
さっと片付(かたづ)ける: to tidy up quickly

SIMILAR WORDS:

ぱっと: suddenly, in a flash (more abrupt, often visual — ぱっと明(あか)るくなる)
すっと: smoothly, quietly (gentler, more subtle movement)
さっさと: briskly, without delay (implies impatience or efficiency; often used as a command)

USAGE:
さっと often implies a light, surface-level action: さっと洗(あら)う (quick rinse, not a thorough wash), さっと読(よ)む (skim, not a careful read). In cooking, さっと茹(ゆ)でる means to blanch briefly.

Related Words

Synonym: ぱっと (suddenly, in a flash)

Synonym: すっと (smoothly, gently)

Synonym: さっさと (briskly, without delay)

general

Added 2026.1.16 14:48 · Revised 2026.6.6 4:07

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