What is the difference in meaning between "mousugu", "mamonaku", and
"sorosoro"?

According to what I found, in English they all mean "soon"?
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2017-08-12T06:28:48.003
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2020-08-16T21:16:30.177
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question
meaning adverbs linguistics semantics
the different adverbia between 'mousugu', 'mamonaku', and sorosoro
もうすぐ and まもなく are both "soon". The latter is a formal expression mainly used
in polite business settings. And まもなく refers to a very short time (usually a
few minutes), but もうすぐ can be a few days, or even months later, depending on
the context.

>   * もうすぐ春が来る。: OK
>   * まもなく春が来る。: weird
>

そろそろ is an adverb which adds a nuance of "it's high time" or "it's about
time".

> そろそろ学校に行く時間だ。 It's about time to go to school.
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2017-08-12T17:49:28.660
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2017-08-12T22:51:30.403
2017-08-12T22:51:30.403
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answer
In my opinion, もうすぐ is a subjective expression(subjunctive mood) for the
upcoming event and you don't have to be so sure about the event definitely
will come whereas まもなく is more of an expression for the known fact(bus, train,
flight schedule)and you know the upcoming event already scheduled in advance
and probably logistics officers often use it. As for the comment, you asked,
もうすぐ is a subjunctive it is slightly weird to use for the past tense. I mean
you know the event already finished. And if the chronological order(present-
past) is clear and known fact, you should use "まもなく".
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2017-09-30T00:52:57.183
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answer