laap6 hak1立刻
Jyutpinglaap6 hak1
Yalelaahp hāk
Definition
Immediately; at once; right away.
neutraltimework
How it's used
While standard in written Chinese, this word sounds formal or urgent when spoken in Cantonese. For everyday, casual situations, speakers almost always prefer using 即刻 or 立即 instead. It is often reserved for professional settings or when someone is being particularly stern or serious.
Examples
Please handle this matter for me immediately.
He told you to go over immediately, why aren't you leaving quickly?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often overuse this in casual conversation where it sounds overly stiff or dramatic. Use 即刻 for most daily interactions to sound more natural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
