焦急

• Pinyin: jiāo jí
• Hanzi breakdown: 焦 = burnt, scorched with worry; 急 = 刍 (grass) + 心 (heart) — heart racing, urgent

Meaning

Anxious; worried and impatient. A state of restless concern, often while waiting for something.

Describes anxiety that has an impatient quality — not just worried but urgently wanting the situation to be resolved. Often used when waiting for news, looking for someone, or facing time pressure. Stronger than 着急 in intensity.

Examples

1. 飞机延误了三个小时，旅客们都很焦急。 The flight was delayed by three hours, and all the passengers were anxious.
2. 她焦急地在医院走廊里来回踱步，等待手术结果。 She paced anxiously back and forth in the hospital corridor, waiting for the surgery results.
3. 眼看截止日期就要到了，他越来越焦急。 With the deadline approaching, he became increasingly anxious.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, everyday, crisis

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 别焦急，消息很快就会来的。(Don't be anxious, the news will come soon.)
• 他焦急地等待着考试成绩。(He anxiously awaited his exam results.)

Don't Say

• 用'焦急'描述轻微的不耐烦 (Don't use 焦急 for mild impatience — it implies strong anxiety; use 有点急 for mild impatience)

Origin & History

Composed of 焦 (burnt; anxious) + 急 (urgent; anxious). The combination intensifies the sense of agitated worry.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal