Meaning and Usage
The word 急 (きゅう) primarily means "urgent" or "sudden." It is used to describe situations or actions that happen quickly or unexpectedly, often requiring immediate attention.
Common Contexts
You will often see 急 used in everyday conversation to express sudden changes, urgent matters, or the need to hurry. For example, 急に (きゅうに) means "suddenly," and 急用 (きゅうよう) means "urgent business."
Collocations and Patterns
- 急に + verb: indicates something happening suddenly (e.g., 急に雨が降る - it suddenly rains).
- 急用: urgent matter or business.
- 急ぐ: to hurry or rush.
Register and Politeness
急 is neutral and can be used in both casual and formal contexts. However, when combined with verbs like 急ぐ, the politeness level depends on the verb form.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 急に (suddenly) with 速く (はやく, quickly). 急に emphasizes unexpectedness or urgency, while 速く focuses on speed without the sudden nuance.