In this study, a simple gradient RRLC method for rapid determination of carbonyl compounds of cigarette smoke was developed. Within 10 min, 8 carbonyl compounds have been separated and identified on ZORBAX Eclipse XDB-C18 column ($4.6{ imes}50;mm$, $1.8;{mu}m$) with gradient elution using water and acetonitrile as a mobile phase. RRLC was used for the quantification of carbonyl compounds in mainstream smoke of 3R4F reference cigarette, and evaluated those efficiencies in the recovery, repeatability and reproducibility. The correlation coefficients ($r^2$) for calibration curves of carbonyl compounds were over 0.9998. The developed RRLC method was successfully applied to the analysis of smoke samples and the recoveries of carbonyl compounds were in the range of 97.5~102.1% with RSD<3.1%.