긴급하다
It means something needs to be done right away because it is very important.
Explanation at your level:
You use 긴급하다 when something is very fast and important. If a person is sick, it is 긴급하다. It means 'hurry' or 'now!'
When you see 긴급하다, think of an emergency. It is used for things that need your help right away. For example, an 긴급한 phone call is a call you must answer now.
This word is used to describe critical situations. It is more formal than saying 'fast.' Use it when talking about work, safety, or health issues that require immediate action or special attention.
긴급하다 conveys a sense of critical pressure. It is often found in formal writing or news broadcasts. It implies that the situation is time-sensitive and requires an immediate response to avoid negative consequences.
In advanced contexts, 긴급하다 is used to denote a state of exigency. It can describe political, economic, or social crises where the urgency is systemic rather than just individual. It carries significant weight in professional discourse.
Mastery of 긴급하다 involves understanding its nuance in formal registers. It is distinct from 급하다 (which can mean 'hurried' or 'impatient'). 긴급하다 is reserved for objective, external states of emergency, whereas 급하다 can be subjective. Use it to add gravity to your descriptions of high-stakes environments.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means 'urgent' or 'pressing'.
- Used for serious or emergency situations.
- Commonly paired with '상황' (situation).
- More formal than '급하다'.
When you hear 긴급하다 (gin-geup-ha-da), think of a situation where the clock is ticking loudly! It is an adjective used to describe situations that are urgent or pressing.
You use this word when you need to emphasize that something cannot wait. Whether it is a medical emergency or a sudden deadline at work, 긴급하다 signals that action is required immediately.
The word 긴급하다 is rooted in Sino-Korean characters (Hanja). Specifically, it comes from 緊 (tight/urgent) and 急 (hurried/fast).
Historically, these characters were used to describe situations that were 'tightly bound' or 'constricted' by time. Over centuries, it evolved into the modern Korean adjective we use today to describe any state of high urgency.
You will often see 긴급하다 paired with nouns like 상황 (situation) or 조치 (measure). It is common in news reports and professional environments.
In casual speech, people might use it to describe a sudden personal need, but it is generally considered a formal or serious word. It carries a weight of responsibility, so avoid using it for trivial matters like 'I am urgently hungry for a snack' unless you are being funny!
While not a direct idiom, the phrase 긴급 상황 (emergency situation) is the most common collocation. Another is 긴급을 요하다, which means 'to require urgency' or 'to be of an urgent nature.'
You might also hear 긴급 대책 (emergency measures), which refers to the specific steps taken to handle a crisis. These phrases help you sound like a native speaker when discussing serious topics.
As an adjective, 긴급하다 functions as a descriptive predicate. You can change it to the modifier form 긴급한 (urgent) to describe a noun, like 긴급한 연락 (an urgent message).
Pronunciation-wise, emphasize the first syllable slightly. It rhymes loosely with the rhythm of words like 'in-depth-ha-da' if you were to anglicize the cadence. It is a standard, clear word to pronounce in Korean.
Fun Fact
The character 緊 (tight) is often used in words related to tension.
Pronunciation Guide
Crisp syllables with a clear 'g' sound.
Standard Korean pronunciation.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'g' as 'k'
- Dropping the 'h' sound
- Merging the syllables
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Common in media
Useful for formal emails
Standard vocabulary
Frequent in news
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective modifier form
긴급한 상황
Adverbial form -게
긴급하게
Formal sentence endings
긴급합니다
Examples by Level
긴급해요.
It is urgent.
Present tense adjective.
긴급한 일이에요.
It is an urgent matter.
Modifier form.
지금 긴급해요.
It is urgent now.
Adverb + adjective.
긴급한 상황입니다.
It is an emergency situation.
Formal ending.
너무 긴급해요.
It is very urgent.
Degree adverb.
긴급한 소식.
Urgent news.
Noun modification.
정말 긴급합니다.
It is truly urgent.
Formal politeness.
긴급한 도움이 필요해요.
I need urgent help.
Object marker.
긴급한 연락이 왔습니다.
상황이 매우 긴급합니다.
긴급한 수술이 필요해요.
긴급한 회의를 소집하세요.
긴급한 결정이 필요합니다.
이것은 긴급한 문제입니다.
긴급한 대피가 시작되었습니다.
긴급한 상황을 알리세요.
긴급한 조치를 취해야 합니다.
긴급한 화재 경보가 울렸습니다.
긴급한 사정이 생겨서 못 가요.
정부는 긴급한 대책을 마련했다.
긴급한 요청을 처리하고 있습니다.
긴급한 상황에서 침착하세요.
긴급한 이메일을 보냈습니다.
긴급한 수리 작업이 진행 중입니다.
긴급한 사안으로 인해 회의가 연기되었습니다.
긴급한 구조 작업이 밤새 이어졌습니다.
긴급한 경제적 위기에 직면했습니다.
긴급한 의료 지원이 절실합니다.
긴급한 사태를 대비해 준비하십시오.
긴급한 공지가 게시판에 붙었습니다.
긴급한 조치가 없으면 위험합니다.
긴급한 상황을 예의주시하고 있습니다.
긴급한 외교적 협상이 타결되었습니다.
긴급한 환경 문제에 대한 대응이 시급합니다.
긴급한 법적 검토가 요구되는 사안입니다.
긴급한 대중의 요구를 수용했습니다.
긴급한 재난 대응 매뉴얼을 확인하세요.
긴급한 기술적 결함이 발견되었습니다.
긴급한 사회적 변화가 감지됩니다.
긴급한 경영 전략 수정이 필요합니다.
긴급한 역사적 전환점에 서 있습니다.
긴급한 윤리적 딜레마를 해결해야 합니다.
긴급한 학술적 논의가 진행되었습니다.
긴급한 철학적 성찰이 요구되는 시대입니다.
긴급한 문학적 표현을 통해 긴장감을 조성합니다.
긴급한 예술적 창조의 순간을 포착했습니다.
긴급한 구조적 모순을 지적했습니다.
긴급한 인류학적 연구가 수행되었습니다.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"발등에 불이 떨어지다"
To have an urgent situation right in front of you.
발등에 불이 떨어져서 정신이 없어요.
idiomatic"촌각을 다투다"
To race against time (every second counts).
지금은 촌각을 다투는 긴급한 상황입니다.
formal"눈코 뜰 새 없다"
To be extremely busy.
긴급한 일로 눈코 뜰 새 없어요.
casual"급한 불을 끄다"
To handle the most urgent problem first.
일단 급한 불부터 끄자.
neutral"긴급을 요하다"
To require immediate attention.
이 문서는 긴급을 요하는 것입니다.
formal"안절부절못하다"
To be anxious due to urgency.
긴급한 소식에 안절부절못했습니다.
neutralEasily Confused
Both mean urgent/fast.
급하다 is casual/subjective; 긴급하다 is formal/objective.
일이 급해요 vs 긴급한 상황입니다.
Both imply urgency.
다급하다 focuses on the feeling of being rushed.
다급하게 전화했다.
Both mean urgent.
시급하다 focuses on the need for immediate action/priority.
개혁이 시급하다.
Both are serious.
절박하다 implies desperation.
절박한 상황.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 이/가 + 긴급하다
상황이 긴급하다.
긴급한 + Noun
긴급한 연락을 받았다.
긴급하게 + Verb
긴급하게 대처했다.
Subject + 긴급함을 + Verb
그는 긴급함을 느꼈다.
긴급한 + Noun + 이/가 + 필요하다
긴급한 조치가 필요하다.
Word Family
Nouns
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7/10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
긴급하다 is for serious emergencies.
긴급한 is more formal/serious.
It is not a verb, so use with '이다'.
Always '긴급한 + noun'.
It sounds too heavy for casual talk.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Place a red fire alarm in your palace.
When Native Speakers Use It
When reporting real danger.
Cultural Insight
It is a serious word, don't overuse it.
Grammar Shortcut
Use '긴급한' before a noun.
Say It Right
Clear 'g' and 'p' sounds.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it for minor tasks.
Did You Know?
It comes from Hanja.
Study Smart
Read news headlines for examples.
Tone
Keep it serious.
Adverbial Form
Use -게 for 'urgently'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'GIN' (Gin) bottle that is 'GEUP' (Gulping) down liquid because it is urgent!
Visual Association
A flashing red light.
Word Web
Challenge
Try saying '긴급 상황' every time you see a siren.
Word Origin
Sino-Korean
Original meaning: Tight and hurried
Cultural Context
Do not joke about '긴급 상황' as it causes real alarm.
Equates to 'urgent' or 'emergency' in English.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- 긴급 회의
- 긴급 연락
- 긴급 업무
In news
- 긴급 보도
- 긴급 상황
- 긴급 대책
In emergencies
- 긴급 구조
- 긴급 수술
- 긴급 대피
In daily life
- 긴급한 일
- 긴급한 사정
Conversation Starters
"긴급한 상황을 겪어본 적 있나요?"
"긴급할 때 가장 먼저 무엇을 하나요?"
"긴급한 연락을 받으면 기분이 어떤가요?"
"어떤 상황이 가장 긴급하다고 생각하나요?"
"긴급한 대책이 필요한 사회 문제는 무엇인가요?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you had to act quickly.
Describe an emergency situation you saw in a movie.
Why is it important to stay calm in urgent situations?
List three things that are urgent in your life right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is an adjective.
Only if the lateness is a major emergency.
Use the root '긴급'.
Similar, but '긴급하다' is more formal.
For breaking news or disasters.
No, Korean adjectives don't have plurals.
Yes, that is the adverbial form.
Yes, very frequently.
Test Yourself
상황이 매우 ___.
It describes a situation that is urgent.
Which means 'urgent situation'?
상황 means situation.
Is '긴급하다' used for trivial things?
It is for serious matters.
Word
Meaning
Matches term to meaning.
Correct order: Urgent help is needed.
___ 연락이 왔습니다.
Urgent contact.
What is a synonym?
급박하다 means urgent.
Can you use '긴급하다' for a relaxed day?
Contradictory.
Word
Meaning
Formal term.
Urgent measures are required.
Score: /10
Summary
Use '긴급하다' when the situation is serious and requires immediate action.
- Means 'urgent' or 'pressing'.
- Used for serious or emergency situations.
- Commonly paired with '상황' (situation).
- More formal than '급하다'.
Memory Palace Trick
Place a red fire alarm in your palace.
When Native Speakers Use It
When reporting real danger.
Cultural Insight
It is a serious word, don't overuse it.
Grammar Shortcut
Use '긴급한' before a noun.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More work words
주 5일제
A2A system where one works five days a week, typically Monday to Friday.
결근
A2Absence from work; not being present at work.
결근하다
A2To be absent from work.
추상적이다
A2To be abstract.
출입증
A2ID card, access card.
회계
B1The systematic recording and reporting of financial transactions.
경리
A2Accounting or bookkeeping, managing financial records.
업적
B1A notable achievement or accomplishment.
적극적이다
A2To be active, to be proactive.
적극적으로
B1In an active, proactive, or enthusiastic manner.
