The kanji 急 means `suddenly`, `unexpected`, `urgent`, `emergency`, `haste`. 急 is used alone or in combination with other kanji to indicate **urgency, haste, something that happens quickly or unexpectedly**.

In this post we learn more about the meaning of 急, its origin, and how it is used through real example sentences.

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## Origin of the kanji 急
The kanji 急 contains the kanji 心, which means `heart` or `spirit`. In the upper part the kanji also contains the two radicals 𠂊 (`hook`) and ヨ.


## What does kanji mean 急
The kanji 急 alone means `urgent`, `in a hurry`. Any other kanji in combination with 急 takes on the meaning of `quick`, `haste`, `urgent`.

Among the most common terms are:

- The adverb (急|きゅう)に, which means `suddenly`

- The verb (急|いそ)ぐ, which means `to hurry`



## Kanji readings 急
Let's now see the various On and Kun readings that the kanji 急 assumes.


### Kun readings of the kanji 急 🇯🇵

#### いそ
The reading いそ is used for the verb (急|いそ)ぐ, `to hurry`, and all its variations and combinations with other kanji.

{% sentence japanese="そうと(決|きま)まれば(急|いそ)がなければならない。" translation="If you made up your mind you must hurry." /%}


#### せ
A less common Kun reading is せ, used for the verb (急|せ)く, which also means `to hurry`.


### On readings of the kanji 急 🇨🇳

#### きゅう
きゅう is the most common reading for the kanji 急. This reading is used in combination with other kanji to form various fairly common terms, such as:

- (緊|きん)(急|きゅう): `urgency`, `emergency`

- (急|きゅう)(速|そく): `rapid` (progress)

- (急|きゅう)に: `suddenly`



## Examples of the kanji 急
{% sentence japanese="(急|きゅう)に(何|なに)するんだ！" translation="What are you doing suddenly!" /%}

{% sentence japanese="なんで(急|きゅう)に(寝|ね)るんだよ" translation="Why sleeping so suddenly." /%}



Learn all about the Japanese Kanji 急: what it means, how it is used, and many interesting facts about the origin and history of 急.

急 (Suddenly) - Meaning and history | Japanese Kanji

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急 (Suddenly) - Meaning and history | Japanese Kanji

Origin of the kanji 急

What does kanji mean 急

Kanji readings 急

Kun readings of the kanji 急 🇯🇵

いそ

せ

On readings of the kanji 急 🇨🇳

きゅう

Examples of the kanji 急

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