Translation guide
Describes events happening one after another with little or no pause. Japanese uses adverbs, verb forms, and mimetic words to express rapid succession.
Express that multiple actions or events occur in rapid sequence
Adverb meaning 'one after another' or 'in rapid succession'. Used with verbs to describe a series of events.
問題が次々に起こった。
Problems occurred in quick succession.
彼は次々に質問をした。
He asked questions in quick succession.
Adverb emphasizing that events happen without interruption, often with a sense of relentlessness.
立て続けに電話がかかってきた。
Phone calls came in quick succession.
彼は立て続けに3本のホームランを打った。
He hit three home runs in quick succession.
Formal adverb often used in news or reports for events occurring one after another.
事故が相次いで発生した。
Accidents occurred in quick succession.
Similar to 立て続けに, but slightly more colloquial. Implies actions done without a break.
続けざまにタバコを吸った。
He smoked cigarettes in quick succession.
Literally 'arrow after arrow quickly'. Used for rapid-fire questions or actions, often with a sense of urgency.
記者が矢継ぎ早に質問した。
The reporter asked questions in quick succession.
Express that the same action is repeated quickly multiple times
Means 'consecutively' or 'in a row'. Used for repeated actions or events.
彼は連続して3回優勝した。
He won three times in quick succession.
Verb te-form of 続ける, meaning 'continuingly'. Often used with numbers.
続けて2回失敗した。
I failed twice in quick succession.
Use onomatopoeia to vividly describe quick, successive actions
Mimetic word for things progressing rapidly or continuously. Very common in speech.
仕事がどんどん片付いた。
The work got done in quick succession.
Variant of 次々に, slightly more emphatic or literary.
観客が次々と会場に入った。
The audience entered the venue in quick succession.
Mimetic for light, quick actions like popping or firing off. Casual.
彼はアイデアをぽんぽん出した。
He came up with ideas in quick succession.
次々に is neutral and simply describes a sequence. 立て続けに emphasizes no pause and can imply relentlessness or annoyance.
次々に客が来た。
Customers came one after another.
立て続けに苦情が来た。
Complaints came in quick succession (and it was overwhelming).
Do not translate 'in quick succession' word-for-word. Phrases like '速い連続で' are unnatural. Use the adverbs and patterns above.
Verb meaning to do something relentlessly one after another, like 'to press on' or 'to fire off'.
質問を畳み掛けた。
He fired off questions in quick succession.