Chinese word

着急

Pronunciation

Pinyinzháo jí

Meaning

  • verbworry

Example

别着急，孩子还没回家。bié zháo jí hái zi hái méi huí jiā

Don't worry, the child hasn't come home yet.

Illustration for 着急 (worry)

More examples

我有点儿着急，还没收到他的消息。wǒ yóu diǎnr zháo jí hái mò shōu dào tā de xiāo xī

I'm a little worried, and I still haven't heard from him.

Core concept

An inner sense of time speeds up under uncertainty, pushing concern toward impatience and hurried action.

Common phrases

  • 不要着急bú yào zháo jí

    don't be anxious

  • 先别着急xiān bié zháo jí

    take it easy for now

  • 有点儿着急yóu diǎnr zháo jí

    be somewhat worried

Similar words

担心dān xīn: Feeling worried that something may go wrong.
急jí: Wanting to act quickly because there is not enough time.

Definition in Chinese

因担心某事或其结果而心里不安、急切想知道或处理的状态。yīn dān xīn mǒu shì huò qí jié guǒ ér xīn lǐ bù ān jí qiè xiǎng zhī dào huò chú lǐ de zhuàng tài

Word origin

The character 着 (zháo, "be affected by") marks 急 (jí, "urgent") as a state that takes hold, forming a word for being caught in pressing concern.

Usage tips

  • A negative form before this verb often reassures someone not to panic rather than simply telling them to slow their movements, which separates emotional urgency from physical speed.

Other meanings

  • be impatientadjective
  • hurryverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word