Chinese word

急躁

Pronunciation

Pinyinjí zào

Meaning

  • adjectiveimpatient

Example

他很急躁，总是打断别人。tā hěn jí zào zǒng shì dǎ duàn bié rén

He is very impatient and always interrupts others.

Illustration for 急躁 (impatient)

More examples

别那么急躁，先深呼吸。bié nà me jí zào xiān shēn hū xī

Don't be so impatient; take a deep breath first.

Core concept

A restless inner rush that turns small delays into sharp, impulsive reactions.

Common phrases

  • 很急躁hěn jí zào

    very impatient

  • 别那么急躁bié nà me jí zào

    don't be so impatient

Similar words

不耐烦bú nài fán: Unable to wait calmly, with irritation growing during delays or slow progress.
性急xìng jí: Inclined to rush things and unable to wait calmly or act with patience.
易怒yì nù: Prone to anger, becoming upset over even small matters.
焦躁jiāo zào: Restless and eager to act quickly, with an unsettled feeling that makes calm waiting difficult.

Definition in Chinese

指性格上容易因小事急躁、耐心不足、情绪易怒且常有冲动行为的形容词。zhǐ xìng gé shàng róng yì yīn xiǎo shì jí zào nài xīn bù zú qíng xù yì nù qiě cháng yǒu chōng dòng xíng wéi de xíng róng cí

Word origin

急躁 (jízào, "impatient") joins 急 (jí, "hurried") and 躁 (zào, "agitated"), so the compound pictures haste joined to an unsettled temper.

Usage tips

  • When it describes a colleague or older person, the adjective can sound like a judgment of character, so a specific description of the behavior is often more tactful.

Other meanings

  • short-temperedadjective
  • easily annoyedadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word