そろそろ details
about time to + write
sorosoro kaku
about time to; soon — the right moment for the act has nearly arrived
meaning: write soon
終電がなくなるから、そろそろ帰るね。
shuuden ga nakunaru kara, sorosoro kaeru ne.
The last train's going, so I'll go home soon. casual
全員集まりましたので、そろそろ会議を始めましょう。
zen'in atsumarimashita node, sorosoro kaigi o hajimemashou.
Everyone has arrived, so let's start the meeting. neutral
Examples
about time to — the speaker signals that the moment has come, often as a polite way to move things along
終電がなくなるから、そろそろ帰るね。
shuuden ga nakunaru kara, sorosoro kaeru ne.
The last train's going, so I'll go home soon. casual
全員集まりましたので、そろそろ会議を始めましょう。
zen'in atsumarimashita node, sorosoro kaigi o hajimemashou.
Everyone has arrived, so let's start the meeting. neutral
そろそろお時間ですので、こちらで失礼いたします。
sorosoro o jikan desu node, kochira de shitsurei itashimasu.
We are close to time, so I will take my leave here. formal
そろそろ寝ようかな。
sorosoro neyou kana.
Guess it's about time I went to bed. casual
Formation
そろそろ{V}attaches to dictionary form
Related patterns
Similar
〜るところだ is a predicate reporting that the act is on the brink of starting; そろそろ is an adverb judging the moment RIGHT — 出るところだ says you are about to leave, そろそろ出る says it is time you did, and only the second works as a hint to the room.
Both mark a moment arriving, but もう〜た says the change is already complete and そろそろ that it is still pending and due — もう帰った reports a departure, そろそろ帰る announces one, so a speaker already out the door cannot use そろそろ.
Both point at an act about to happen, but すぐ puts zero interval between trigger and act while そろそろ says the right moment is only now arriving — そろそろ帰る is "about time I went home", すぐ帰る "I'm leaving this second".