せっかち

• Reading: せっかち
• Romaji: sekkachi
• Pronunciation: /sek.ka.tɕi/

Meaning

Hasty; impatient; restless. Describes a person who cannot wait and rushes through things.

A na-adjective and noun describing someone who is always in a hurry and lacks patience. Used to characterise personality traits rather than temporary states. Often appears as せっかちな人 (an impatient person) or せっかちな性格 (an impatient nature). Can carry a mildly critical tone, though it is sometimes used self-deprecatingly.

Examples

1. せっかちな彼は信号が変わる前に歩き出す。 He's so impatient that he starts walking before the light even changes.
2. もう少し待って、そんなにせっかちにならないで。 Wait a little longer — don't be so impatient.
3. 父はせっかちな性格で、いつも食事が一番早い。 My dad has an impatient personality and always finishes eating first.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, personality description, family

Tone: mildly critical

Origin & History

Derived from 急(せ)く (to hurry) combined with an emphatic suffix. The word has been used since the Edo period to describe impatient temperaments.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal