mǎ shàng
immediately
我马上就到。
wǒ mǎshàng jiù dào.
I'll be there soon.
你马上要走了吗？
nǐ mǎshàng yào zǒu le ma?
Are you leaving soon?
我马上给你打电话。
wǒ mǎshàng gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà.
I'll call you right away.
立刻 (lì kè)
immediately
马上 (mǎ shang)
right away
即刻 (jí kè)
at once
迟早 (chí zǎo)
sooner or later
最终 (zuì zhōng)
eventually
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The Chinese word 马上 (mǎshàng) is composed of two characters: 马 (mǎ), meaning "horse," and 上 (shàng), meaning "on" or "above." Together, these characters literally mean "on the horse." However, 马上 also has a number of figurative meanings, including "immediately," "right away," or "at once."The earliest known use of 马上 in this sense dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE). In a poem by the poet Cao Cao, 马上 is used to describe the speed with which a horse can travel. Over time, the word came to be used more broadly to refer to any kind of quick or immediate action.Today, 马上 is one of the most common words in the Chinese language. It is used in both formal and informal settings, and it can be used to express a variety of different meanings. For HSK learners, it is important to understand the different meanings of 马上 in order to use it correctly in conversation and writing.
