Readings: キュウ (Onyomi), いそ.ぐ, いそ.ぎ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Urgent, sudden, steep
The kanji 急 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The phonetic component is 邑 (yū, a variant of 阜, meaning mound/hill, indicating a steep incline), and the semantic component is 心 (kokoro, heart), suggesting a hurried or anxious feeling. Together, it conveys the idea of something moving quickly or being steep, as in hurrying up a steep slope.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 急 is drawn with 9 strokes. Start with the top-left radical (⺄), then the top-right component, followed by the bottom heart radical (心). Pay attention to the correct stroke order for smooth writing.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 心 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- キュウ (Kyuu)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- いそぐ (isogu)
- いそぎ (isogi)
Common Words Using 急
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 急行 | きゅうこう | express (train/bus) |
| 急速 | きゅうそく | rapid, speedy |
| 急用 | きゅうよう | urgent business/matter |
| 急変 | きゅうへん | sudden change |
| 急病 | きゅうびょう | sudden illness |
| 急死 | きゅうし | sudden death |
| 急増 | きゅうぞう | rapid increase |
| 急減 | きゅうげん | rapid decrease |
| 緊急 | きんきゅう | urgent, emergency |
| 急流 | きゅうりゅう | rapid current |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 急ぐ | いそぐ | to hurry, to rush |
| 急ぎ | いそぎ | hurry, urgency (noun) |
| 急ぎ足 | いそぎあし | quick steps, brisk pace |
| 急ぎ便 | いそぎびん | express mail/delivery |
| 急ぎの用事 | いそぎのようじ | urgent business/errand |
| 気が急く | きがせく | to be impatient, to feel rushed |
| 急ぎ足で歩く | いそぎあしであるく | to walk quickly/at a brisk pace |
| 急がせる | いそがせる | to make someone hurry |
| 急ぎません | いそぎません | not in a hurry |
| 急がば回れ | いそがばまわれ | Haste makes waste; more haste, less speed (proverb) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 急いでください。
Kana: いそいでください。
Romaji: Isoide kudasai.
English: Please hurry.
Japanese: この電車は急行です。
Kana: このでんしゃはきゅうこうです。
Romaji: Kono densha wa kyuukou desu.
English: This train is an express train.
Japanese: 急な坂道を上りました。
Kana: きゅうなさかみちをのぼりました。
Romaji: Kyuu na sakamichi o noborimashita.
English: I climbed a steep slope.
Japanese: 急に雨が降り出しました。
Kana: きゅうにあめがふりだしました。
Romaji: Kyuu ni ame ga furidashimashita.
English: It suddenly started raining.
Japanese: 彼は急病で病院に運ばれました。
Kana: かれはきゅうびょうでびょういんにはこばれました。
Romaji: Kare wa kyuubyou de byouin ni hakobaremashita.
English: He was rushed to the hospital due to a sudden illness.
Japanese: 急ぎの仕事があります。
Kana: いそぎのしごとがあります。
Romaji: Isogi no shigoto ga arimasu.
English: I have urgent work.
Japanese: 景気が急速に回復しています。
Kana: けいきが きゅうそくに かいふくしています。
Romaji: Keiki ga kyuusoku ni kaifuku shite imasu.
English: The economy is recovering rapidly.
Japanese: 緊急の連絡事項です。
Kana: きんきゅうのれんらくじこうです。
Romaji: Kinkyuu no renraku jikou desu.
English: This is an urgent announcement.
Japanese: 時間がなくて、気が急いています。
Kana: じかんがなくて、きがいそいています。
Romaji: Jikan ga nakute, ki ga isoite imasu.
English: I don’t have much time, so I feel rushed.
Japanese: 急がば回れ、焦らずに行きましょう。
Kana: いそがばまわれ、あせらずにいきましょう。
Romaji: Isogaba maware, aserazu ni ikimashou.
English: Haste makes waste, let’s proceed without rushing.
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