HSK 4
时间副词：按时、即将、急忙、渐渐、尽快
shí jiān fù cí ： àn shí 、 jí jiāng 、 jí máng 、 jiàn jiàn 、 jǐn kuài
Time adverbs: 按时、即将、急忙、渐渐、尽快
Explanation
This is a group of adverbs (words that modify verbs or adjectives) of time, placed before the verb to say that an action happens on time, is about to happen, is done hastily, gradually, or quickly.
Subject + [按时 ànshí / 即将 jíjiāng / 急忙 jímáng / 渐渐 jiànjiàn / 尽快 jǐnkuài] + verb. These adverbs always come before the verb, never at the end of the sentence.
按时 ànshí = 'on time, on schedule' (taking medicine, going to work on time); 即将 jíjiāng = 'about to, on the verge of' (used in written/formal contexts for something about to happen); 急忙 jímáng = 'hurriedly, in a rush' (doing something urgently); 渐渐 jiànjiàn = 'gradually, little by little' (a slow change over time); 尽快 jǐnkuài = 'as soon as possible, as fast as one can'.
即将 jíjiāng leans toward written language; in everyday speech use 快要...了 kuàiyào...le instead. 渐渐 jiànjiàn is only used for gradual changes, not for instantaneous actions (you cannot say 渐渐吃完). 尽快 jǐnkuài ('as soon as possible') differs from 尽量 jǐnliàng ('to the best of one's ability'); don't confuse them.
Examples
You must take your medicine on time.
The students are about to graduate.
Class is about to start, so he hurriedly ran into the classroom.
Spring has come, and the weather is gradually warming up.
Call him back as soon as possible.
Practice
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Learn “时间副词：按时、即将、急忙、渐渐、尽快” effectively
The grammar point “时间副词：按时、即将、急忙、渐渐、尽快” (Time adverbs: 按时、即将、急忙、渐渐、尽快) is one of the key structures at HSK 4. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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