soon
/suːn/ (bre, ipa) · /suːn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsün especially New England ˈsu̇n/ (ame, mw)
soon — 副詞
1. after a short period of time passes; at a time that is not far from now — for ex
很快
短時間內；不久後
after a short period of time passes; at a time that is not far from now — for example, saying that a bus will arrive in a few minutes, or that a holiday will come in a few weeks.
Karim will finish his homework soon and join us for dinner.
Karim 很快會寫完作業，然後跟我們一起吃晚餐。
will + [verb] + soon for near-future event
The doctor told Tamar that the baby would arrive very soon.
醫生告訴 Tamar，寶寶很快就會出生了。
very + soon for emphasis
Soon after the rain stopped, Rohan and Anong went outside to play.
雨停後不久，Rohan 和 Anong 就跑到外面去玩了。
If you leave your house now, you will get there soon enough.
如果你現在出門，很快就會到那裡。
The Watanabe family expects the new library to open very soon.
渡邊家期待新圖書館很快就會開放。
- shortly
more formal; common in written English and news reports
- presently
formal, chiefly British; means 'in a short time from now'
- before long
phrase, slightly more literary; emphasises that the wait is not long
- later
at a time in the future that is farther away
- eventually
after a long period or after many delays
文法句型
[subject] + will + [verb] + soon
soon + after + [noun phrase]
[verb] + soon enough
用法筆記
Often paired with 'very' or 'quite' for emphasis ('very soon', 'quite soon'). In past-tense narratives, 'soon' marks a short interval after the previous event: 'She arrived and soon found a seat.'
常見錯誤
2. connects two events that happen one right after the other — the first event fini
一…就
緊接在某事之後
connects two events that happen one right after the other — the first event finishes and the second begins with hardly any gap between them. The phrase 'as soon as' marks this close relationship.
As soon as the bell rang, the students ran out of the classroom.
鈴聲一響，學生們就衝出了教室。
as soon as + past tense for completed events
Call me as soon as you hear any news about the job.
你一聽到任何關於工作的消息就打電話給我。
as soon as + present tense for future reference
As soon as Anong finished her meal, she helped clear the table.
Anong 一吃完飯就幫忙收拾餐桌。
We left the house as soon as the taxi arrived at the door.
計程車一到門口，我們就離開了房子。
As soon as Vinícius saw the smoke, he ran to wake the neighbours.
Vinícius 一看見煙霧，就跑去叫醒鄰居。
- immediately after
slightly more formal; stresses the absence of any delay
- the moment that
emphatic; suggests an even tighter connection between the two events
- once
shorter and more conversational; 'Once I get there, I'll call you.'
- long after
after a significant period of time
文法句型
as soon as + [subject] + [past/present verb]
as soon as + [subject] + [present perfect]
用法筆記
The clause after 'as soon as' uses a present tense (not 'will') when talking about the future: 'I will call you as soon as I arrive' (NOT 'as soon as I will arrive').
常見錯誤
3. at the earliest moment that the situation allows, showing that a task is urgent
儘快
在最早可能時間
at the earliest moment that the situation allows, showing that a task is urgent and should happen with no waiting — often shortened to the letters 'ASAP' in notes and messages.
Please send the report back to me as soon as possible.
請儘快把報告寄回給我。
as soon as possible in polite requests
The nurse said the patient needs to see a doctor as soon as possible.
護士說病人需要儘快看醫生。
Karim promised to finish Mrs. Chen's painting as soon as possible.
Karim 答應儘快完成陳太太的畫作。
Lotte told the team she would reply to their questions as soon as possible.
Lotte 告訴團隊她會儘快回覆他們的問題。
Nia and Walid need to find a new apartment as soon as possible.
Nia 和 Walid 需要儘快找到新公寓。
- at once
more urgent and direct; implies immediate action
- without delay
formal; used in official instructions
- right away
informal, conversational
文法句型
as soon as possible
as soon as you can
用法筆記
Often abbreviated 'ASAP' in informal notes and messages. In formal writing, the full form 'as soon as possible' is preferred. The variant 'as soon as you can' is more conversational.
常見錯誤
4. expresses a choice between two actions or situations, where you are more willing
寧願
表示偏好或選擇
expresses a choice between two actions or situations, where you are more willing to do one than the other — this meaning only appears in the fixed phrases 'would (just) as soon' and 'would sooner'.
I would just as soon stay home and watch a movie tonight.
我寧願今晚待在家看電影。
would just as soon + [base verb] for mild preference
Christopher said he would sooner take the train than drive in this weather.
Christopher 說他寧願搭火車也不要在這種天氣開車。
would sooner + [verb] + than + [verb] for contrast
Tamar would just as soon not discuss the matter over dinner.
Tamar 寧願不在晚餐時討論這件事。
Brooke would just as soon spend the holiday with her family in Taipei.
Brooke 寧願跟家人在台北過節。
I would sooner walk than wait for a bus that is late.
我寧願走路，也不要等一輛遲到的公車。
- would rather
far more common in everyday English; 'I'd rather go by train'
- would prefer to
more formal; takes a to-infinitive
- had just as soon
American English variant, slightly old-fashioned
- would rather not
negative preference
文法句型
would (just) as soon + [base verb]
would sooner + [base verb] + than + [base verb]
用法筆記
Only appears in the fixed structures 'would (just) as soon' and 'would sooner.' 'Would rather' is far more common in everyday speech. 'Would sooner' is slightly more formal and often pairs with 'than' for contrast.