急 — Hurry, Sudden, Emergency

Meaning

The kanji 急 (kyū) covers everything from a sudden change in plans to physically rushing for a bus. As a staple of the N4 level, it marks your transition into more descriptive, everyday Japanese. You will see it used to describe speed, urgent situations, or even the physical angle of a steep hill. Basically, whenever there is a lack of time or a sudden shift in state, this character is likely involved.

Etymologically, the character combines action and emotion. The top part represents a hand reaching out or grasping, while the bottom part is the 'heart' radical (心 - kokoro). It originally depicted a person in such a rush that their heart was racing. This visual captures the feeling of pressure—where your internal state and your physical actions are both moving at high speed. In modern usage, this nuance of 'being pressed for time' remains very strong.

Structurally, 急 consists of 9 strokes. Japanese children learn it in 3rd grade. You'll encounter it constantly in the real world, from buttons on a microwave to signs at the train station.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

The on'yomi reading is キュウ (kyū). While frequently used in compound words (jukugo), it also functions as a na-adjective (急な - kyū na) to describe something sudden or steep. For example, a 'sudden phone call' is kyū na denwa.

Examples of キュウ in use:

急行きゅうこう (kyūkou) — Express train
急用きゅうよう (kyūyou) — Urgent business
急死きゅうし (kyūshi) — Sudden death
急変きゅうへん (kyūhen) — Sudden change

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

The native Japanese reading is いそ.ぐ (iso.gu). This is the standard verb for 'to hurry.' When you see the 'gu' (ぐ) trailing after the kanji, it refers to the physical act of rushing. The noun form, 急いそぎ (isogi), is used for things that are done in haste, such as an 'urgent request' (isogi no tanomi).

Examples of いそ.ぐ in use:

急いそぐ (isogu) — To hurry; to rush
急いそぎの仕事しごと (isogi no shigoto) — Urgent work; a rush job
急いそいで！ (Isoide!) — Hurry up! (Imperative form)

Common Words & Compounds

You can categorize most 急 compounds into transportation, emergencies, or descriptions of intensity.

Travel and Speed:

特急とっきゅう (tokkyū) — Limited Express train (the fastest tier below the Shinkansen)
急停車きゅうていしゃ (kyūteisha) — Sudden stop (common on bus/train warnings)
急速きゅうそく (kyūsoku) — Rapid; high-speed (often used for economic growth or recovery)

Emergency Situations:

緊急きんきゅう (kinkyū) — Emergency; urgent (as in 'Emergency Exit')
救急車きゅうきゅうしゃ (kyūkyūsha) — Ambulance (literally 'rescue-hurry-car')
応急手当おうきゅうてあて (ōkyū teate) — First aid

States and Timing:

急きゅうな坂さか (kyū na saka) — A steep hill
至急しきゅう (shikyū) — ASAP; immediately
急激きゅうげき (kyūgeki) — Radical; drastic (used for sharp temperature drops)

Example Sentences

時間じかんがないので、急いそいでください。

Jikan ga nai node, isoide kudasai.

We're out of time, so please hurry up.

急きゅうに雨あめが降ふりだしました。

Kyū ni ame ga furidashimashita.

It suddenly started raining.

あの角かどで車くるまが急停車きゅうていしゃしました。

Ano kado de kuruma ga kyūteisha shimashita.

A car screeched to a halt at that corner.

次つぎの特急とっきゅうに乗乗れば、間まに合あいます。

Tsugi no tokkyū ni noreba, ma ni aimasu.

If you take the next limited express, you'll make it on time.

彼かれは急用きゅうようができたと言って、帰かえりました。

Kare wa kyūyou ga dekita to itte, kaerimashita.

He said something urgent came up and went home.

怪我けがをしたので、救急車きゅうきゅうしゃを呼よびました。

Kega wo shita node, kyūkyūsha wo yobimashita.

I got injured, so I called an ambulance.

この山やまの道みちはとても急きゅうですから、気きをつけてください。

Kono yama no michi wa totemo kyū desu kara, ki wo tsukete kudasai.

This mountain path is very steep, so please be careful.

至急しきゅう、このメールに返信へんしんしてください。

Shikyū, kono mēru ni henshin shite kudasai.

Please reply to this email immediately.

その事件じけんの後あと、状況じょうきょうが急変きゅうへんした。

Sono jiken no ato, jōkyō ga kyūhen shita.

The situation took a sudden turn after that incident.

無理むりに急いそぐ必要ひつようはありません。

Muri ni isogu hitsuyō wa arimasen.

There is no need to rush yourself excessively.

Related Kanji

軽 — Light, Nimble, or Frivolous (Kanji N4)
短 — Short, brief, defect (Kanji N4)
便 — Convenience, Facility, Communication (Kanji N4)
悪 — Bad, Evil, Wrong (Kanji N4)
暗 — Dark, Darkness, Gloomy (Kanji N4)
広 — Wide, Broad, Spacious (Kanji N4)

Memory Tip

Imagine the top part (⺈) as a hand reaching out to grab the last train of the night. Below is your heart (心), which is beating fast from the sprint. When you see this kanji, think of your heart being under a hand that is pushing it to work faster. Alternatively, if you see the 'claw' shape on top, imagine a hand frantically trying to hold back the hands of a clock because you are in such a hurry.