着急

• Pinyin: zháo jí
• Hanzi breakdown: 着 = 羊 (sheep) + 目 (eye), resultative complement indicating a reached state; 急 = 刍 + 心 (heart), urgent or hurried

Meaning

To feel anxious; to be in a hurry; to worry about something urgently.

Describes a state of impatience, anxiety, or urgency — a feeling that something needs to happen quickly or that one is worried about a situation. Often used with 别 to tell someone not to worry (别着急). Can describe rushing due to time pressure or emotional worry.

Examples

1. 火车快开了，他着急地在人群中找票。 The train was about to leave and he anxiously searched for his ticket in the crowd.
2. 别着急，事情慢慢来，总会解决的。 Don't worry — take things one step at a time and things will work out.
3. 她着急地等着医院的检查结果出来。 She waited anxiously for the hospital test results to come out.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, emotional

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 别着急，我们还有时间。(Don't worry, we still have time.)
• 她看到孩子没回家就开始着急了。(She started to worry when her child hadn't come home.)

Don't Say

• 把'着急'用于书面正式报告或文件 (Avoid 着急 in formal written documents — use 焦虑 or 紧迫 for professional or academic contexts)

Origin & History

A compound of 着 (a resultative complement indicating a state has been reached) and 急 (urgent, anxious). Together they mean to have entered a state of urgency or worry.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal