What does 急 mean in Japanese?
急 means “sudden, urgent, steep” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 急ぐ (to hurry), 急に (suddenly), and 急行 (express train).
For learners, the key is to study 急 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: キュウ (kyuu)
Kun’yomi: いそ-ぐ (iso-gu)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 急 |
|---|
How to Understand This Kanji
急 is not limited to one English translation. In 急ぐ (いそぐ), it means to hurry; in 急に (きゅうに), it points to suddenly; and in 急行 (きゅうこう), it is used for express train. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 急ぐ（いそぐ / isogu） — to hurry
- 急に（きゅうに / kyūni） — suddenly
- 急行（きゅうこう / kyūkō） — express train
- 急用（きゅうよう / kyūyō） — urgent business
- 救急（きゅうきゅう / kyūkyū） — emergency aid
- 急坂（きゅうざか / kyūzaka） — steep slope
Example Sentences
-
駅まで急いでください。
えきまでいそいでください。 / Eki made isoide kudasai.
Please hurry to the station.
-
急に雨が降り始めました。
きゅうにあめがふりはじめました。 / Kyū ni ame ga furihajimemashita.
It suddenly started raining.
-
急行電車に乗りました。
きゅうこうでんしゃにのりました。 / Kyūkō densha ni norimashita.
I took the express train.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 急ぐ (いそぐ / isogu) because it keeps the core meaning of 急 clear. Then add 急に and 急行 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 急 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
急 means “sudden, urgent, steep” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 急ぐ, 急に, and 急行.