再不… 就….Zài bù... jiù...
This structure emphasizes urgency. Use 再不 (zài bù) to introduce the action that needs to be done soon, and 就 (jiù) to introduce the consequence.
Examples再不走就来不及了！Zài bù zǒu jiù lái bù jí le!
If we don’t leave now, it’ll be too late!
再不写完报告，老板会生气的！Zài bù xiě wán bào gào, lǎo bǎn huì shēng qì de!
If you don’t finish the report now, the boss will be angry!
再不睡觉，明天就起不来了！Zài bù shuì jiào, míng tiān jiù qǐ bù lái le!
If you don’t sleep now, you won’t be able to wake up tomorrow!
快点Kuài diǎn
Hurry up! This is your go-to phrase for telling someone to move quickly. It’s simple and direct.
Examples快点吃饭！Kuài diǎn chī fàn!
Hurry up and eat!
快点写完作业！Kuài diǎn xiě wán zuò yè!
Finish your homework quickly!
快点发邮件！Kuài diǎn fā yóu jiàn!
Send the email quickly!
赶紧Gǎn jǐn
Right now, immediately. Stronger than 快点 (kuài diǎn), it’s used when something must be done immediately or without delay.
Examples赶紧走！Gǎn jǐn zǒu!
Leave right now!
赶紧联系客户！Gǎn jǐn lián xì kè hù!
Contact the client immediately!
赶紧准备会议材料！Gǎn jǐn zhǔn bèi huì yì cái liào!
Prepare the meeting materials immediately!
赶快Gǎn kuài
Hurry up! More urgent than 快点 (kuài diǎn), but not as strong as 赶紧 (gǎn jǐn).
Examples赶快报名！Gǎn kuài bào míng!
Hurry up and register!
赶快把这个问题解决了！Gǎn kuài bǎ zhè ge wèn tí jiě jué le!
Hurry up and resolve this issue!
赶快过来开会！Gǎn kuài guò lái kāi huì!
Hurry up and come to the meeting!
趁早Chèn zǎo
Do it as early as possible. Use 趁早 (chèn zǎo) when encouraging someone to act early before it’s too late.
Examples趁早决定，不然机会就没了。Chèn zǎo jué dìng, bù rán jī huì jiù méi le.
Decide early, or the opportunity will be gone.
你最好趁早告诉他。Nǐ zuì hǎo chèn zǎo gào sù tā.
You’d better tell him sooner rather than later.
趁Chèn
Act before it’s too late. Use 趁 (chèn) to push someone to act while there’s still an opportunity. Often followed by an action.
Examples趁热吃，凉了就不好吃了。Chèn rè chī, liáng le jiù bù hǎo chī le.
Eat it while it’s hot; it won’t taste as good cold.
趁现在没什么人，快去买票。Chèn xiàn zài méi shén me rén, kuài qù mǎi piào.
Go buy the tickets now while there aren’t many people!
别等了Bié děng le
Don’t wait anymore. Tell someone to stop hesitating or waiting and act now.
Examples别等了，立刻行动吧！Bié děng le, lì kè xíng dòng ba!
Don’t wait; take action immediately!
别等了，时间快到了！Bié děng le, shí jiān kuài dào le!
Don’t wait; time is almost up!
别再拖了Bié zài tuō le
Stop delaying. This phrase tells someone to stop procrastinating and act immediately.
Examples别再拖了，赶紧交报告！Bié zài tuō le, gǎn jǐn jiāo bào gào!
Stop delaying and hand in the report!
别再拖了，客户在等我们的答复！Bié zài tuō le, kè hù zài děng wǒ men de dá fù!
Stop delaying; the client is waiting for our response!
要不然Yào bù rán
Otherwise. Use 要不然 (yào bù rán) to emphasize the consequence of not acting quickly.
Examples快点，要不然就迟到了！Kuài diǎn, yào bù rán jiù chí dào le!
Hurry up, or else we’ll be late!
赶紧修好电脑，要不然老板会发火的。Gǎn jǐn xiū hǎo diàn nǎo, yào bù rán lǎo bǎn huì fā huǒ de.
Fix the computer quickly, or the boss will get angry!
Recap - Key Phrases for Urgency
再不… 就… (Zài bù... jiù…) – Warn about consequences if action isn’t taken quickly.
快点 (Kuài diǎn) – Urge someone to hurry up.
赶紧 (Gǎn jǐn) – Stronger form of urgency, must act immediately.
赶快 (Gǎn kuài) – Similar to 快点, but with more urgency.
趁早 (Chèn zǎo) – Do it early to avoid problems later.
趁 (Chèn) – Take advantage of the opportunity before it’s too late.
别等了 (Bié děng le) – Don’t wait any longer, act now!
别再拖了 (Bié zài tuō le) – Stop procrastinating, act now!
要不然 (Yào bù rán) – Emphasizes the consequences of inaction.
Comments