すぐ vs. そろそろ

[Maxful]

Hi, I would like to know what is the difference between すぐ and そろそろ as "soon"?


1a. バスはそろそろ出発する。

1b. バスはすぐにしゅっぱつする。


2a. そろそろ朝ごはんを食べる。

2b. 今すぐ朝ごはんを食べる。

[Nyororin]

With the examples you have, the meanings are very different.

I general, すぐ tends to be just "soon", and そろそろ is similar to "pretty soon".
There is a difference in how definite the remaining time is.

In your examples though, you use すぐに and 今すぐ, which are different than a solitary すぐ.

For 1a, the bus is going to be leaving pretty soon.
1b, the bus is about to leave. It will be departing immediately.

For 2a, you will be eating breakfast pretty soon.
2b, you are going t eat it immediately.

In both your examples, すぐ is not soon, but rather immediate.

[masaegu]

Adding to Nyororin's good explanation, here is another in my own words.

「すぐ」: The right time has already arrived.

「そろそろ」: The right time is approaching.

[Maxful]

Thanks Nyororin and masaegu. Do you mind providing me with a few examples of your own?

[masaegu]

Originally Posted by Maxful

Thanks Nyororin and masaegu. Do you mind providing me with a few examples of your own?

「学校から帰ったらすぐ塾（じゅく）に行かなければな らない。 」
「大学を卒業したらすぐに日本へ行きマサさんと結婚し ます。 」
Mom on phone: 「いつまで外で遊んでるの！今すぐ帰ってきなさい！ 」

「あの娘（こ）ももう２５だ。そろそろ結婚してもいい 頃だ。」
「プールの水が冷たく感じるようになってきた。そろそ ろ夏も終わりだな。」
「さて、そろそろおいとましなきゃ。今日は本当にごち そうさまでした。」

[MMM]

I hear そろそろ most often with phrases like this.

「そろそろ帰りましょうか。」
This literally means "Shall we go home fairly soon?"

This means to me "Let's finish our drinks and head home in the next 5 to 10 minutes."

If someone said this:

「すぐ帰りましょうか。」

would mean to me "We have already worn out our welcome. We need to leave now. "

[Maxful]

Thanks for the help, masaegu and MMM.