急ぐ

• Reading: いそぐ
• Romaji: isogu
• Kanji breakdown: 急 (kyuu/iso) — hurry, emergency, sudden
• Pronunciation: /i.so.ɡɯ/

Meaning

To hurry; to rush; to be in a hurry. Describes moving or acting quickly due to urgency.

A Group 1 (godan) verb that can be both transitive and intransitive. Often appears in the imperative form 急いで (isoide, hurry up!) in casual speech. The related noun is 急ぎ (isogi, urgency). Common in travel, commuting, and deadline situations.

Examples

1. 電車に遅れるから急いでください。 We'll miss the train, so please hurry.
2. 急いで宿題を終わらせなければならない。 I have to hurry up and finish my homework.
3. そんなに急がなくても大丈夫ですよ。 There's no need to rush that much — it's fine.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, commuting, deadlines

Tone: urgent

Origin & History

The kanji 急 depicts a hand (彐) reaching down to grab a person (人) in the center, with a heart (心) below. Conveys the urgency of the heart — a pressing need to act fast.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal