How to Use そろそろ and もうすぐ Most People Don’t Know

そろそろ and もうすぐ might have been pretty confusing words for Japanese learners, but don’t worry about it. It’s not that difficult to figure them out. After reading this, your Japanese skill will improve! Let me introduce how you correctly use そろそろ and もうすぐ today!

そろそろ(sorosoro)

It’s about time

“そろそろ” is “It’s about time”, so it means NEAR FUTURE than “もうすぐ”. What is the difference between “そろそろ電車でんしゃが来くる” and “もうすぐ電車でんしゃが来くる?” Although they are quite similar, native speakers think “そろそろ電車でんしゃが来くる” is near future than “もうすぐ電車でんしゃが来くる”. Time-wise, “そろそろ電車でんしゃが来くる” is within 5 minutes and “もうすぐ電車でんしゃが来くる” is within 10 to 20 minutes in this time.

Example

ゆか
そろそろ彼氏かれしがほしいな。 (It’s about time I got a new boyfriend.) (差不多想交个男友了。) (슬슬 남자 친구 갖고 싶다.) (Cũng đến lúc muốn có bạn trai rồi.)

たつや
そろそろ夏服なつふくを買かいに行いかないとなー。 (It’s about time to go shopping for a summer outfit.) (差不多得去买些夏装了。) (슬슬 여름  옷을 사러 가야겠어.) (Sắp đến lúc phải đi mua quần áo mùa hè rồi.)

ゆか
そろそろ旅行りょこうの計画けいかくを立たてなきゃ。 (It’s about time I had a plan for the summer.) (差不多该来计划旅行了。) (슬슬 여행 계획을 세워놔야겠어.) (Sắp sửa đến lúc phải lên kế hoạch du lịch rồi.)

たつや
そろそろ寝ねるよ。 (It’ about time to go to bed.) (差不多该睡喽。) (이제 잘거야.) (Tớ đến giờ đi ngủ rồi đấy.)

もうすぐ(mousugu)

Soon / Around the corner

“もうすぐ” is”Soon and Around the corner” and “もうすぐ” means pretty longer future than “そろそろ”. The way to use them is that “もうすぐバスが来きます。(The bus will come here soon.)” and time-wise, it will take 10 to 20 minutes. And “そろそろバスが来きます。(It’s about time the bus came here.)” and time-wise 5 to 10 minutes. Next, what is the difference between “もうすぐ寝ねます” and “そろそろ寝ねます?”, “もうすぐ寝ねます” is that a person will go to bed within 1 hour, and “そろそろ寝ねます” is that he/she will go to bed within 30 minutes. Again it depends on people feel the length of time though.

Example