As far as I am aware, すぐに means "immediately", but in which contexts can you use もうすぐ and すぐ？
-
2What about いますぐ/今すぐ?– hippietrailMay 11, 2014 at 1:36
Add a comment
|
2 Answers
As an example, if I'm told this I might expect the fireworks to start...
すぐ花火が始まります-> 0 min - maybe 5 min
すぐに花火が始まります-> 0 min - maybe 5 min
もうすぐ花火が始まります-> maybe 5 min - maybe 20 min
i.e. もうすぐ isn't immediately, more like "very soon". As for すぐ vs すぐに I don't think there is a difference.
EDIT: The actual time these word indicates depends heavily on the context and listener. The times above are completely made up.
For example if I'm told this, I might expect my scores to go up...:
すぐ学力が上がりますよ
-> I can expect them to go up within 3 months?
もうすぐ学力が上がりますよ
-> it won't get better now, but they will start to get better after at some point, maybe in a month?
But somebody else may have a completely different expectation.
-
So all of the above forms mean very very near future. Is there a way for "soon" as "in a few days to weeks"?– miikaelfMay 11, 2014 at 15:32
-
-
@EnnoShioji 「学力」のほうの例で、「すぐ」が「もうすぐ」より長い(3ヶ月になってる)んですけど・・・もしかして「3週間」とかの書き間違いでは・・・– user1016May 11, 2014 at 16:13
-
@Chocolate: そこはわざとです。。並べて書くとなんとなくもうすぐの方が先な気がするけど、実際一方だけ言われた時にどれくらいの長さを想像するかはその時々で全然違う気がするんですよね。「もうすぐ」って言うと、逆に「『今すぐ』には学力は上がり始めない」という意味があると思うので、そこが「すぐに」と一番明確に違うとこなのかなと。 May 11, 2014 at 16:36
-
すぐ is an adjective, すぐに is an adverb. It's "Immediate" vs. "Immediately". May 13, 2014 at 22:00
There could be various explanations from Japanese native speakers. Mine is just one of them. I hope it could be helpful for your question.
もうすぐ: もうすぐ春が来る。
"もうすぐ" = "Just a little longer and"
At the end of winter, we sometimes find a sign of spring and say "Spring is coming." "もうすぐ春が来る"
"もうすぐ" doesn't only mean "soon" but "sooner than expected before," because in the winter we can't wait until spring. Strong demand for spring makes us feel "Spring will come in the far distant future." However, at the end of winter, we can find a hint of spring and realize as much about the coming of spring. In such situation, we say "もうすぐ春が来る！"
"もうすぐ１０時になるよ。早くしてね。" = "It's almost 10 o'clock. Hurry up!"
"もうすぐ" here means "earlier than you expected" or "If you are not careful, or you'll drop behind the time." "もうすぐ" is used as mental time sense.
"もうすぐ花火が始まるよ。うかうかしていると見逃すよ！"
"すぐ" and "すぐに" means "instantaneous" or "straight"
"１階を掃除したら、すぐに２階も掃除してね"
You have two scenes in sequential order and scene changes without a pause.
"もうすぐ春が来る！" いよいよ、待ちに待った春が来ると言う感じがある。春の到来を待っていたので、それが長く感じられていた。それがもうすぐそこに来る。
"すぐに春が来る" 冬が終わったら、冬と春の中間のような季節は感じられずに、春が来る。
"すぐに新しいボスが来る" 前任者が離任して間を置かずに、新任のボスが来る。
