急 jí urgent
urgent; anxious; in a hurry; fast
How to remember 急: 刍 hay + 心 heart = urgent. When the hay in the stable catches fire, the young rider's heart races and she yells into the phone "This is urgent!"
Component breakdown
急 = 刍 hay + 心 heart
- 刍 hay
- 心 heart
When the hay in the stable catches fire, the young rider's heart races and she yells into the phone "This is urgent!"
How it came to be
A hand closing on a fistful of grass, over a heart. Something has hold of the heart and is pulling: the grip is the whole of the feeling.
How it is used
- Heart radical 心 - the feeling of urgency/anxiety: 别急 (bié jí) don't rush/don't panic, 我很急 (wǒ hěn jí) I'm in a hurry.
- Splits into 'anxious' (着急 zháojí to worry) and 'urgent' (急事 jíshì an urgent matter, 紧急 jǐnjí emergency, 急诊 jízhěn ER visit).
- 急 can also describe fast/fierce motion: 水流很急 (shuǐliú hěn jí) the current is fast; 急忙 (jímáng) hurriedly.
Characters built with 急
Words with 急
- 着急zháojíto worryHSK 3
- 急忙jímánghastilyHSK 5
- 急诊jízhěnto give or receive urgent medical treatmentHSK 5
- 急需jíxūto urgently needHSK 5
- 紧急jǐnjíurgentHSK 5
- 急切jíqièeagerHSK 6
- 急救jíjiùto give emergency treatmentHSK 6
- 危急wēijícriticalHSK 7
- 应急yìngjíto respond to an emergencyHSK 7
- 当务之急dāngwùzhījítop priority jobHSK 7
- 急于jíyúeager toHSK 7
- 急于求成jíyú-qiúchénganxious for quick results (idiom)HSK 7
- 急剧jíjùrapidHSK 7
- 急功近利jígōng-jìnlìseeking instant benefit (idiom)HSK 7
- 急性jíxìngacuteHSK 7
- 心急如焚xīnjí-rúfénburning with anxiety; frantic with worryHSK 8
- 急中生智jízhōng-shēngzhìquick witted in an emergencyHSK 8
- 急促jícùurgentHSK 8
- 急躁jízàoirritableHSK 8
- 急迫jípòurgentHSK 8
- 焦急jiāojíanxietyHSK 9
Example sentences
- 他丢了钱包，很着急。 Tā diū le qiánbāo, hěn zháojí.He lost his wallet and is very worried.