1.
as soon as possible; without a moment's delay; at the earliest possible moment
An emphatic expression conveying extreme urgency, meaning not even a single moment should be wasted. Stronger and more literary than できるだけ早く.
一刻も早く逃げなさい。
Run away immediately!
一刻も早く問題を解決しなければならない。
We must solve this problem as soon as possible.
被災者を一刻も早く救助する必要がある。
The disaster victims need to be rescued without a moment's delay.
USAGE:
一刻 literally means "one moment" or "one instant." The expression 一刻も早く conveys that even the smallest unit of time matters — there must be no delay. It is more emphatic and literary than できるだけ早く or なるべく早く. Often used in urgent situations involving safety, emergencies, or critical deadlines.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 一刻も早く〜する必要がある (need to do ~ immediately)
- 一刻も早く〜してほしい (want ~ done ASAP)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- できるだけ早く: as soon as possible — less emphatic, everyday usage
- なるべく早く: as soon as possible — polite, everyday usage
- 至急: urgently — formal, often used in business
Related Words
Synonym:
至急 (formal, business)