1.
promptly, without delay
Doing something quickly or immediately, without wasting time.
早々に切り上げた。
I wrapped things up promptly.
会議が終わると、早々に帰ってしまった。
As soon as the meeting ended, he went straight home.
忙しかったので、挨拶早々に失礼した。
I was busy, so I excused myself right after the greetings.
2.
right after, as soon as
Used as a suffix after nouns indicating a time or event to mean 'right after' or 'as soon as.' Read as そうそう in this usage.
入社早々、大きなプロジェクトを任された。
Right after joining the company, I was entrusted with a big project.
新年早々、うれしいニュースが届いた。
Right at the start of the new year, good news arrived.
開店早々にお客さんが行列を作っていた。
Right after opening, customers were already lining up.
USAGE:
Two main patterns:
1. 早々に + verb: promptly, without delay (adverbial)
2. Noun + 早々: right after [noun], as soon as [noun] (suffix)
The suffix pattern attaches to nouns representing events or time points: 入社早々 (right after joining), 新年早々 (right at the new year), 到着早々 (right after arriving).
Note: This is different from the colloquial filler word そうそう (meaning 'oh right, that reminds me').
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 早々に引き上げる: to withdraw promptly
- 新年早々: right at the start of the new year
- 入社早々: right after joining a company