Meaning and Usage
The verb 急ぐ (いそぐ) means "to hurry" or "to rush." It is commonly used when someone needs to move or act quickly to avoid being late or to meet a deadline. It can describe physical movement, like hurrying to catch a train, or more abstract urgency, like finishing work quickly.
Common Collocations
- 急ぐ必要がある (いそぐひつようがある): "there is a need to hurry" — used when urgency is required.
- 急いで〜する (いそいで〜する): "to do something quickly" — emphasizes the speed of the action.
- 急ぐあまり (いそぐあまり): "because of hurrying too much" — often used to describe mistakes made due to rushing.
Register and Politeness
急ぐ is a neutral verb and can be used in both casual and polite contexts. When speaking politely, it is often combined with ます-form: 急ぎます.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 急ぐ with 慌てる (あわてる), which means "to panic" or "to be flustered." 急ぐ focuses on the speed of action, while 慌てる emphasizes emotional panic. Use 急ぐ when you want to express hurrying deliberately.
Practical Tips
When you use 急ぐ, you often imply that there is a reason to hurry, such as catching a train or meeting a deadline. It is natural to combine it with expressions of time or necessity to clarify the urgency.