Many Chinese learners know that 赶紧, 赶快, 赶忙, and 连忙 can all mean something like “quickly,” “hurry up,” or “immediately.”
But they are not exactly the same.
Some are used to urge someone to do something quickly.
Some are used to describe a quick reaction after something happens.
If you use them in the wrong place, the sentence may still be understandable, but it can sound unnatural.
Let’s look at them one by one. 🌿
1. Part of Speech
赶紧 gǎnjǐn
赶快 gǎnkuài
赶忙 gǎnmáng
连忙 liánmáng
These four words are usually used as adverbs.
They are placed before a verb or verb phrase.
Basic structure:
Subject + 赶紧 / 赶快 / 赶忙 / 连忙 + Verb
For example:
我赶紧给他打电话。
I quickly called him.
她连忙解释。
She immediately explained.
2. 赶紧: Hurry Up and Do It Now
赶紧 means “quickly,” “hurry up,” or “do something right away.”
It often shows that the speaker feels the action is urgent or should not be delayed.
It is very common in spoken Chinese.
Example 1
快下雨了，我们赶紧回家吧。
It is about to rain. Let’s hurry home.
Example 2
你身体不舒服，赶紧去医院吧。
You don’t feel well. Go to the hospital quickly.
Example 3
老师来了，学生们赶紧坐好。
The teacher came, and the students quickly sat properly.
Key feeling:
赶紧 often sounds practical and urgent: “Do it now, don’t wait.”
3. 赶快: Quickly / As Soon As Possible
赶快 is very close to 赶紧.
It also means “quickly” or “hurry up.”
It can be used to urge someone to do something soon.
Compared with 赶紧, 赶快 sounds a little more neutral and slightly more formal. It is also common in both spoken and written Chinese.
Example 1
时间不早了，你赶快出门吧。
It is getting late. Leave quickly.
Example 2
请赶快完成作业。
Please finish your homework as soon as possible.
Example 3
发现问题以后，我们要赶快解决。
After finding the problem, we should solve it quickly.
Key feeling:
赶快 means “quickly / as soon as possible.” It is slightly more neutral than 赶紧.
4. 赶紧 vs 赶快
In many sentences, 赶紧 and 赶快 can be exchanged.
Both are natural:
你赶紧走吧。
Hurry and go.
你赶快走吧。
Go quickly.
The difference is small:
赶紧 sounds more spoken and urgent.
赶快 sounds more neutral and sometimes a little more formal.
For daily conversation, 赶紧 is very natural.
For instructions, notices, or slightly formal situations, 赶快 can be suitable.
5. 赶忙: Hurriedly Did Something
赶忙 means “hurriedly” or “quickly.”
But it is usually used to describe that someone quickly did something after noticing a situation.
It often appears in storytelling or written Chinese.
Example 1
听到妈妈叫他，他赶忙跑过去。
When he heard his mother calling him, he hurriedly ran over.
Example 2
看到客人来了，她赶忙去倒茶。
Seeing that the guests had arrived, she hurried to pour tea.
Example 3
他发现自己说错了话，赶忙道歉。
He realized he had said something wrong and hurriedly apologized.
Key feeling:
赶忙 describes a quick action in response to a situation. It often sounds a little more narrative.
6. 连忙: Immediately in Response
连忙 also means “quickly” or “immediately.”
It strongly suggests that someone reacts right after something happens.
It is very common in stories and descriptions.
Example 1
孩子哭了，妈妈连忙抱起他。
The child cried, and the mother immediately picked him up.
Example 2
我说错了话，连忙向她道歉。
I said something wrong and immediately apologized to her.
Example 3
听到这个消息，他连忙打开手机查看。
After hearing the news, he immediately opened his phone to check.
Key feeling:
连忙 emphasizes a quick reaction: something happened, so the person immediately did something.
7. 赶忙 vs 连忙
赶忙 and 连忙 are often very close.
Both can describe a quick reaction after something happens.
For example:
听到老师的问题，他赶忙回答。
Hearing the teacher’s question, he hurriedly answered.
听到老师的问题，他连忙回答。
Hearing the teacher’s question, he immediately answered.
Both are correct.
The small difference is:
赶忙 emphasizes “hurriedly doing the action.”
连忙 emphasizes “immediately reacting to the situation.”
In many daily situations, they can be used almost the same way.
8. The Most Important Difference
The biggest difference is between these two groups:
赶紧 / 赶快
These can be used to urge someone to do something quickly.
赶忙 / 连忙
These usually describe someone quickly reacting after something happens.
Compare:
你赶紧回家吧。
Hurry and go home.
你赶快回家吧。
Go home quickly.
These are natural because the speaker is urging someone.
But these are not natural as commands:
你赶忙回家吧。
你连忙回家吧。
Why? Because 赶忙 and 连忙 usually describe a reaction, not a direct command.
Better:
听到孩子生病了，他连忙回家。
After hearing that the child was sick, he immediately went home.
发现天快黑了，他赶忙回家。
After noticing that it was getting dark, he hurried home.
9. Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using 连忙 as a command
Incorrect:
你连忙去医院吧。
This sounds unnatural because 连忙 is usually not used to tell someone what to do.
Better:
你赶紧去医院吧。
Go to the hospital quickly.
Or:
你赶快去医院吧。
Go to the hospital as soon as possible.
Mistake 2: Using 赶忙 for a general habit
Incorrect:
我每天赶忙学习中文。
This sounds strange because 赶忙 usually describes one quick reaction, not a daily habit.
Better:
我每天都努力学习中文。
I study Chinese hard every day.
Or:
我每天都尽量抽时间学习中文。
I try to make time to study Chinese every day.
Mistake 3: Thinking all four words are always interchangeable
Sometimes they are close, but not always.
Natural:
老师来了，我们赶紧坐好。
The teacher came, and we quickly sat properly.
Natural:
老师来了，我们连忙坐好。
The teacher came, and we immediately sat properly.
Both work here because there is a clear situation: the teacher came.
But for urging someone, only 赶紧 / 赶快 are natural:
你赶紧坐好。
Sit properly quickly.
你赶快坐好。
Sit properly quickly.
10. More Natural Examples
赶紧
太晚了，我们赶紧走吧。
It is too late. Let’s hurry and leave.
你赶紧把门关上。
Close the door quickly.
快考试了，你得赶紧复习。
The exam is coming soon. You need to review quickly.
赶快
请赶快回复我的邮件。
Please reply to my email as soon as possible.
天气越来越冷了，赶快穿上外套。
The weather is getting colder. Put on your coat quickly.
如果你有问题，赶快告诉我。
If you have a problem, tell me quickly.
赶忙
看到老师进来，学生们赶忙站起来。
Seeing the teacher come in, the students hurriedly stood up.
他听见电话响了，赶忙去接。
He heard the phone ring and hurried to answer it.
发现文件丢了，她赶忙去找。
After realizing the document was missing, she hurried to look for it.
连忙
听到有人敲门，他连忙去开门。
Hearing someone knock on the door, he immediately went to open it.
我不小心碰到了他，连忙说“对不起”。
I accidentally bumped into him and immediately said “sorry.”
老板问他问题，他连忙回答。
The boss asked him a question, and he immediately answered.
11. A Simple Way to Remember
Use 赶紧 when you want to say:
“Hurry up and do it now.”
你赶紧走吧。
Hurry and go.
Use 赶快 when you want to say:
“Do it quickly / as soon as possible.”
请赶快回复。
Please reply as soon as possible.
Use 赶忙 when you describe:
“Someone hurriedly did something after noticing a situation.”
他看到我来了，赶忙站起来。
He saw me come and hurriedly stood up.
Use 连忙 when you describe:
“Someone immediately reacted after something happened.”
她听到这个消息，连忙给我打电话。
After hearing the news, she immediately called me.
Final Summary
赶紧 and 赶快 are often used to urge someone to act quickly.
They are very useful in daily conversation.
赶忙 and 连忙 are usually used to describe a quick reaction after something happens.
They are common in stories, descriptions, and written Chinese.
So remember:
赶紧 / 赶快 = Hurry up and do it.
赶忙 / 连忙 = Something happened, so someone quickly reacted.
Once you understand this difference, your Chinese will sound much more natural and precise. 🌱