とっさに
🃏 Flashcard
とっさに
tossa ni
Tap to reveal usage
at once; right away; promptly
N1
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
tossa ni
Post ID
51412
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
at once; right away; promptly
📖 How to use it
Describes doing something immediately and instinctively, without thinking.
Attaches to
Used as a standalone adverb before a verb phrase, e.g., とっさに + verb.
とっさに means 'on the spur of the moment' or 'instinctively,' emphasizing a quick reaction that is often automatic or reflexive. It is commonly used when someone does something before they have time to think, such as dodging, answering, or making a quick decision. It can also be used for quick thinking in an emergency.
とっさに彼の手を払いのけた。
Tossa ni kare no te o harainoketa.
I instinctively knocked his hand away.
質問されて、とっさに答えられなかった。
Shitsumon sarete, tossa ni kotaerarenakatta.
When asked, I couldn't answer right away.
火事を見て、とっさに消防に電話した。
Kaji o mite, tossa ni shoubou ni denwa shita.
Seeing the fire, I called the fire department without thinking.
Not すぐに
すぐに means 'soon' or 'immediately' but does not necessarily imply instinct or reflex. とっさに focuses on a quick, spontaneous reaction, often in urgent situations.
Register
Neutral but slightly formal; common in written narration and spoken accounts of incidents, less in casual everyday chatter.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
とっさに
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat とっさに three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using とっさに. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern とっさに mean?
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At once; right away; promptly
What JLPT level is とっさに?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use とっさに in a sentence?
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Attach とっさに (tossa ni) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is とっさに formal or casual Japanese?
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とっさに is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember とっさに long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.