A1 Collocation Neutral

急ぐ

isogu

Hurry/Rush

Phrase in 30 Seconds

{急|い}ぐ is the essential Japanese verb for 'to hurry' or 'to rush' when you are short on time.

  • Means: To move or act quickly because of a deadline or lack of time.
  • Used in: Catching trains, finishing work, or telling someone to move faster.
  • Don't confuse: With {速|はや}い (fast speed) or {忙|いそが}しい (being busy/having much to do).
⏰ + 🏃‍♂️ = {急|い}ぐ

Explanation at your level:

At this level, you just need to know that {急|い}ぐ means 'to hurry.' You will mostly use the form '{急|い}いで' (isoide) to say 'Hurry up!' or '{急|い}ぎます' (isogimasu) to say 'I am hurrying.' It is a very useful word for travel, like when you are late for a bus or a train.
You can now use {急|い}ぐ in different tenses. For example, '{急|い}いで{食|た}べました' (I ate in a hurry). You also learn that it is a Godan verb, so the negative is '{急|い}がない' (isoganai). You start to use it for tasks, not just walking, like '{宿|しゅく}{題|だい}を{急|い}ぐ' (hurry with homework).
At the intermediate level, you distinguish between {急|い}ぐ (physical/task speed) and {焦|あせ}る (feeling panicked). You can use the potential form '{急|い}げる' (can hurry) and understand noun forms like '{急|い}ぎの{用|よう}{事|じ}' (urgent business). You also begin to use it in complex sentences with 'node' or 'kara' to explain reasons for rushing.
You understand the nuance of {急|い}ぐ in abstract contexts, such as '{結|けっ}ろんを{急|い}ぐ' (rushing to a conclusion). You are aware of the causative form '{急|い}がせる' (to make someone hurry) and how it affects social dynamics. You can also use formal alternatives like '{至|し}急' in business correspondence and understand the cultural weight of punctuality.
Advanced learners analyze the etymological connection between {急|い}ぐ and {忙|いそが}しい. You can use the verb in literary or formal contexts, such as '{帰|き}{路|ろ}を{急|い}ぐ' (hurrying on the way home). You understand the subtle difference between {急|い}ぐ and {急|せ}く (to feel pressed/impatient) and can use them to convey specific emotional states in writing.
Mastery involves using {急|い}ぐ within the broader framework of Japanese temporal philosophy. You can discuss the evolution of the word from the Heian period to modern 'speed-culture.' You navigate the highest levels of keigo, using '{お|お}{急|い}ぎのところ{恐|おそ}れ{入|い}りますが' (I am sorry to disturb you while you are in a hurry) with native-level prosody and situational awareness.

Significado

To move or act with great speed.

🌍

Contexto cultural

The 'walking speed' in Tokyo is often cited as one of the fastest in the world. People are constantly {急|い}いでいる to maintain the strict social schedule. In Japanese business, 'ASAP' is often expressed as '{至|し}急' (shikyuu). However, using it too much can be seen as poor planning. Characters often shout '{急|い}げ！' (Isoge!) during action scenes. This is the imperative form and is very masculine and aggressive. When you are in a hurry and need to get past someone, it is polite to say 'Sumimasen' rather than 'Isoide kudasai' (which sounds like you are ordering them).

🎯

Use 'Isoide' for requests

If you want someone to hurry, just saying 'Isoide!' is the most natural way among friends.

⚠️

Avoid 'Isoge!'

Unless you are an anime protagonist or in a life-or-death situation, 'Isoge!' sounds too aggressive.

Significado

To move or act with great speed.

🎯

Use 'Isoide' for requests

If you want someone to hurry, just saying 'Isoide!' is the most natural way among friends.

⚠️

Avoid 'Isoge!'

Unless you are an anime protagonist or in a life-or-death situation, 'Isoge!' sounds too aggressive.

💬

The 'Isogashii' connection

Remember that 'Isogashii' (busy) and 'Isogu' (hurry) share the same root. If you are busy, you will likely need to hurry!

Ponte a prueba

Choose the correct form to complete the sentence: '{電|でん}{車|しゃ}に{遅|おく}れそうなので、____。'

I'm going to be late for the train, so I will hurry.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: {急|い}ぎます

{急|い}ぎます is the polite verb form. '{急|い}ぐです' is grammatically incorrect.

Fill in the blank with the correct 'te-form' to say 'Please hurry.'

すみません、ちょっと____ください。

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: {急|い}いで

For verbs ending in 'gu', the te-form ends in 'ide'.

Match the phrase to the situation.

Which phrase fits a business email asking for a quick reply?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: お{返|へん}{事|じ}を{急|い}がせてしまい、{申|もう}し{訳|わけ}ありません

This is a polite way to acknowledge that you are asking the other person to hurry.

Complete the dialogue.

A: {結|けっ}婚を____。 B: まだ{付|つ}き{合|あ}って一ヶ月でしょ？

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: {急|い}いでいます

A is stating their current desire/state of rushing into marriage.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Isogu vs Hayai vs Isogashii

{急|い}ぐ (Verb)
Action To hurry
{速|はや}い (Adj)
Speed Fast
{忙|いそが}しい (Adj)
State Busy

Preguntas frecuentes

5 preguntas

It can be both. You can 'hurry' (intransitive) or 'hurry a task' (transitive).

No, use {速|はや}い for speed. {急|い}ぐ is for the action of hurrying.

{急|い}ぐ is the physical act; {焦|あせ}る is the mental panic.

Say '{急|い}いでいます' (Isoide imasu).

It means 'More haste, less speed' or 'Slow and steady wins the race.'

Frases relacionadas

🔗

{焦|あせ}る

similar

To panic or feel impatient.

🔗

{急|せ}かす

specialized form

To hurry someone else up.

🔗

{速|はや}める

similar

To accelerate or move up a schedule.

🔄

{急|きゅう}ぐ

synonym

An older, more literary way to say hurry.

Dónde usarla

🚆

Catching a train

Friend A: あと{二|に}{分|ふん}で{電|でん}{車|しゃ}が{来|く}るよ！

Friend B: やばい、{急|い}ごう！

informal
🚕

In a taxi

Passenger: {空|くう}{港|こう}までお{願|ねが}いします。ちょっと{急|い}いでいます。

Driver: かしこまりました。{急|い}ぎますね。

formal
💼

At the office

Boss: この{資|し}{料|りょう}、{急|い}ぎで{作|つく}ってくれる？

Staff: はい、{急|い}いで{取|と}り{掛|か}かります。

formal
🍞

Morning routine

Mother: もう{八|はち}{時|じ}だよ！{急|い}ぎなさい！

Child: わかってるよ、{今|いま}{急|い}いでる！

informal
🍜

Ordering food

Customer: {一番|いちばん}{早|はや}い{料|りょう}{理|り}はどれですか？{急|い}いでいるので。

Waiter: こちらのカレーがすぐにお{出|だ}しできます。

neutral
🤝

Meeting a friend

Friend A: ごめん、{道|みち}に{迷|まよ}った！

Friend B: {映|えい}{画|が}が{始|はじ}まっちゃうよ。{急|い}いで{来|く}て！

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine an **E-S-O-G-U** (Emergency: Someone On Ground Urgently) needing help, so you have to hurry!

Visual Association

Visualize a salaryman in a suit, toast in mouth, running toward a closing train door with a giant clock ticking behind him.

Rhyme

Don't be slow, you've got to go—{急|い}ぐ (isogu) is the word you know!

Story

You are late for a date at a sushi restaurant. You look at your watch and shout 'Isogu!'. You run so fast that you arrive 'iso-ide' (in a hurry) and accidentally trip over a 'gu' (ingredient) on the floor.

Word Web

{急|い}ぐ (To hurry){急|い}ぎます (Hurry - polite){急|い}いで (Hurrying){急|い}がない (Don't hurry){急|い}がせる (Make someone hurry){急|きゅう}行 (Express train){急|きゅう}用 (Urgent business){至|し}急 (Urgently)

Desafío

Try to say '{急|い}いで！' (Isoide!) out loud every time you see someone walking fast on the street today.

In Other Languages

English high

To hurry / To rush

English uses 'rush' as both a noun and verb; Japanese uses {急|い}ぐ primarily as a verb.

Spanish high

Apurarse / Darse prisa

Spanish uses reflexive verbs (apurarse), while Japanese uses a standard intransitive verb.

French high

Se dépêcher

French is reflexive; Japanese is not.

German high

Sich beeilen

German requires the reflexive pronoun 'sich'.

Chinese moderate

赶 (gǎn) / 急 (jí)

Chinese splits the physical action and the emotional state into two different words.

Korean high

서두르다 (seodureuda)

Very few differences; the two words are direct equivalents.

Arabic moderate

عجل (ajala)

Arabic has a stronger moral connotation against hurrying in some contexts.

Portuguese high

Apressar-se

Reflexive structure vs Japanese simple verb structure.

Easily Confused

急ぐ vs {速|はや}い

Both relate to speed.

{速|はや}い is an adjective (The car is fast). {急|い}ぐ is a verb (I am hurrying).

急ぐ vs {忙|いそが}しい

Both sound similar (iso-).

{忙|いそが}しい means you have a lot of work. {急|い}ぐ means you are moving fast.

Preguntas frecuentes (5)

It can be both. You can 'hurry' (intransitive) or 'hurry a task' (transitive).

No, use {速|はや}い for speed. {急|い}ぐ is for the action of hurrying.

{急|い}ぐ is the physical act; {焦|あせ}る is the mental panic.

Say '{急|い}いでいます' (Isoide imasu).

It means 'More haste, less speed' or 'Slow and steady wins the race.'

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