Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| できるだけ早く | dekiru dake hayaku |
| 出来る限り早期 | dekiru gakiri sōki |
| できる限り急いで | dekiru kagiri isoide |
| 可及的速やかに | kakyūteki sumiyaka-ni |
| 一刻も早く | ikkoku mo hayaku |
Japanese has various ways to express urgency and speed, ranging from casual daily speech to highly formal legal language. できるだけ早く is the standard, most versatile way to say 'as soon as possible' or 'as quickly as possible' in daily conversation and polite business settings. For extreme urgency where every second counts, 一刻も早く is used to emphasize that something must be done without a single moment's delay. Other forms like 出来る限り早期 and できる限り急いで also convey versions of this meaning.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase できるだけ早く is composed of dekiru (can do), dake (as much as) and hayaku (early/quickly).
Which one should you use?
While できるだけ早く is the standard and most versatile, 可及的速やかに is a highly formal and stiff expression used in official documents, legal contexts or business announcements. For a sense of extreme urgency, use 一刻も早く, which literally means 'without a single moment's delay'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
できるだけ早く is polite and direct, suitable for daily use and business. 可及的速やかに is very formal and reserved for official or legal writing. In contrast, if you are in Western Japan, particularly the Kansai region, you might hear the casual, informal 早よ used to mean as soon as possible.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Western Japan, particularly the Kansai region, the informal term 早よ is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase できるだけ早く, the word hayaku is the adverbial form of the adjective hayai (fast/early).
How do you pronounce it?
dekiru dake hayaku
Did you know?
- The formal phrase 可及的速やかに is so characteristic of bureaucracy that it is often used in Japanese comedy and satire to mock the stiff and evasive nature of government officials.
- The phrase 一刻 in 一刻も早く refers to a traditional unit of time equal to approximately fifteen minutes, though it is now used figuratively to mean 'one moment'.
- The highly formal 可及的速やかに is essentially a loan-translation from Classical Chinese, which explains why it feels so 'stiff' to a modern Japanese speaker.
Examples in context
- できるだけ早く来ます。I'll come as soon as possible.This sentence shows how to use できるだけ早く to say you will arrive.Tatoeba #202302 by bunbuku, translation #1224407 by CK
- できるだけ早く帰ります。I will come home as soon as possible.This sentence shows how to use できるだけ早く to say you will return home.Tatoeba #159456 by bunbuku, translation #255067 by CC
- できるだけ早く来なさい。Come as soon as possible.This sentence shows how to use できるだけ早く when giving a command.Tatoeba #202303 by small_snow, translation #39515 by CK
- このレポートをできるだけ早く提出してください。Please submit this report as soon as possible.
- なるべく早く返信してくださいね！Please reply as soon as possible!
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta is asking Misaki to check an important email.
- 健太 Kentaメールを送ったから、できるだけ早く読んでね。Mēru o okutta kara, dekirudake hayaku yonde ne.I sent the email, so please read it as soon as possible.
- 美咲 Misakiわかった。今すぐ確認するね。Wakatta. Ima sugu kakunin suru ne.Got it. I'll check it right now.
- 健太 Kentaありがとう。返信もできるだけ早くお願い。Arigatō. Henshin mo dekirudake hayaku onegai.Thanks. Please reply as soon as possible, too.
- 美咲 Misaki了解！すぐに送るよ。Ryōkai! Sugu ni okuru yo.Roger! I'll send it immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “as soon as possible” translations and entries 一刻も早く, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
