Korean word

급하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationkeupada

Meaning

  • adjectivebe in a hurry

Example

지금 급해요, 잠깐 도와줄래요?chi geum keu pae yo cham kkan to wa jul lae yo

I'm in a hurry right now; could you help me for a moment?

Illustration for 급하다 (be in a hurry)

More examples

마음이 급해서 말을 제대로 못했어요.ma eu mi keu pae seo ma reul che dae ro mo tae sseo yo

I was in such a hurry that I couldn't speak properly.

Core concept

A situation feels pressing, so the person's thoughts and movements speed up to deal with it.

Common phrases

  • 마음이 급하다ma eu mi keu pa da

    be in a hurry

  • 시간이 급하다si ga ni keu pa da

    be short on time

Similar words

바쁘다pappeuda: Being busy with many things and having little free time.
촉박하다chokppakada: Having almost no time left before a deadline or planned event.
다급하다tageupada: Feeling strongly pressed to act at once because of a sudden event.

Definition in Korean

어떤 일이 곧 일어나거나 처리되어야 해서 마음이 조급하고 행동이 빨라지는 상태를 이르는 말eo tteon i ri kot i reo na geo na cheo ri doe eo ya hae seo ma eu mi cho geu pa go haeng dong i ppal la ji neun sang tae reul i reu neun mal

Word origin

The word combines a Sino-Korean element meaning sudden or urgent with a common verb-forming element, linking urgency to being in that state.

Usage tips

  • For English speakers, urgent usually describes a task or problem, while this word often describes a person's rushed state when a quick response is needed.

Other meanings

  • urgentadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 급히keupihurriedlyadverb
  • 급함keupamurgencynoun
  • 급박하다keupppakadaurgentadjective

Word lists with this word