“as soon as possible”(常缩写为ASAP)是英语中非常常用的短语,核心含义是“尽快;尽可能快地”,用来强调“在最短时间内完成某件事”的紧迫性。
字面直译是“尽可能快地(做某事)”,本质是“as soon as it is possible (for sb to do sth)”的省略形式,突出“时间上的紧迫”(而非动作本身的速度,这点和“as quickly as possible”略有区别,见下文)。
“as soon as possible”是副词短语,主要作时间状语,修饰动词或整个句子,常见于以下场景:
直接补充说明“做某事的时间要求”,用于请求、命令、建议等语境。
Please reply as soon as possible.(请尽快回复。)
Could you send the files as soon as possible?(你能尽快发文件吗?)
We need to leave as soon as possible to catch the train.(我们得尽快出发赶火车。)
强调“动作要尽快执行”,主语通常是人或执行动作的主体。
He promised to finish the work as soon as possible.(他答应尽快完成工作。)
I’ll call you back as soon as possible.(我会尽快给你回电话。)
在邮件、消息、口语中更简洁,语气同样紧迫。
Please confirm your attendance ASAP.(请尽快确认你的出席。)
The client wants the proposal ASAP.(客户要尽快拿到提案。)
两者都有“快”的意思,但侧重点不同:
as soon as possible:强调“时间上的紧迫性”(即“越早做越好”),比如“尽快来”“尽快回复”;
as quickly as possible:强调“动作的速度”(即“做某事的过程要快”),比如“尽快跑”“尽快写完”。
例:
Come as soon as possible!(尽快来!—— 强调“别拖延,早点到”)
Run as quickly as possible!(尽可能快跑!—— 强调“跑的速度要快”)
do sth as soon as possible:尽快做某事
get sth done as soon as possible:尽快完成某事
reply/call/arrive as soon as possible:尽快回复/打电话/到达
总结:“as soon as possible”是表达“时间紧迫性”的万能短语,无论口语还是书面都高频使用,记住缩写ASAP更高效!