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A2 noun #3,800 most common 10 min read

心急

xinjí Top 3,800

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 心急 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 心急 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of 心急 as a simple way to say 'impatient'. You might use it to describe yourself when you are waiting for a friend who is late. The structure is very simple: '我心急' (I am impatient), though usually, we add '很' (hěn) to make it '我很心急'. This level focuses on identifying the basic emotion of wanting something to happen right now. You might hear a teacher say '别心急' (Don't be impatient) when you are trying to answer a question too fast. It is a foundational word for expressing feelings in Mandarin.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 心急 in more complete sentences and with basic adverbs of degree like '太' (tài - too) or '有点儿' (yǒudiǎnr - a bit). You also learn the common proverb '心急吃不了热豆腐' (Haste makes waste). You can use the word to explain why you are doing something, such as '我心急回家' (I am anxious to go home). At this stage, you should start to distinguish it from '着急' (zháojí), noting that 心急 is more about your internal feeling of wanting speed.

At the B1 level, you use 心急 to describe more complex social and professional situations. You might describe a colleague as being too 心急 for results, or explain that you felt 心急 because a project was moving slowly. You can use it as an adverbial modifier with '地' (de), such as '他心急地打开了信封' (He impatiently opened the envelope). You are expected to understand the nuance of 'heart urgency' versus general 'worry' (着急).

At the B2 level, you understand the psychological depth of 心急. You can use it in discussions about personality types and emotional management. You might write about how modern society makes people more 心急. You also start using related idioms like '心急如焚' (burning with anxiety) to describe intense situations. You can use the word to analyze characters in literature or movies, explaining how their 心急 led to their downfall or success.

At the C1 level, you use 心急 with precision in formal writing and sophisticated debates. You can discuss the philosophical implications of 'impatience' in Chinese culture and compare 心急 with more obscure synonyms like '焦躁' (jiāozào) or '迫切' (pòqiè). You can use it metaphorically to describe a nation's 'anxiety' for development or a market's 'impatience' for reform. Your usage is indistinguishable from a native speaker, incorporating it naturally into complex rhetorical structures.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly grasp of 心急. You can appreciate its use in classical-style modern prose and poetry. You understand the historical evolution of the characters '心' and '急' and how their combination reflects traditional Chinese views on the heart as the center of emotion and thought. You can use the word to create subtle irony or deep pathos in your own creative writing, and you can explain the most minute differences between it and a dozen other words for 'hurry' or 'anxiety'.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

心急 in 30 Seconds

心急 (xīnjí) describes a state of internal impatience or anxiety for quick results.
It combines 'heart' and 'urgent', literally meaning a hurried heart.
Commonly used in the proverb '心急吃不了热豆腐' (Haste makes waste).
It differs from '着急' by focusing more on internal desire than external pressure.

The Chinese word 心急 (xīnjí) is a fascinating compound that captures a specific psychological state common to the human experience: the internal pressure of wanting something to happen immediately. At its core, the word is composed of two characters: 心 (xīn), meaning 'heart' or 'mind', and 急 (jí), meaning 'urgent', 'hurried', or 'anxious'. When combined, they literally describe a 'hurried heart'—a state where one's internal rhythm is faster than the external reality, leading to a sense of impatience or anxiety.

The Internal Clock: Unlike general anxiety, which might be about an unknown future, 心急 is specifically tied to the desire for progress. It is the feeling you get when you are waiting for a slow elevator, expecting an important text message, or trying to master a new skill overnight. It represents an internal restlessness that pushes against the natural flow of time.
Cultural Nuance: In Chinese culture, balance and patience are often emphasized as virtues. Therefore, being described as someone who is 心急 can sometimes carry a mild cautionary tone. It suggests that your emotions are overriding your logic, potentially leading to mistakes or poor quality work. However, it can also be used neutrally to describe a natural eagerness.

“你别太心急，好消息总会来的。” (Nǐ bié tài xīnjí, hǎoxiāoxī zǒng huì lái de.) — "Don't be too impatient; good news will eventually come."

A common encouraging phrase used to calm a friend.

The word is versatile and appears in various contexts, from casual conversations to formal literature. It is often used to describe a person's character (an impatient person) or a temporary state of mind. For example, if a child is waiting for their birthday party to start, they are 心急. If an entrepreneur wants their startup to become a unicorn in one month, they are also 心急. Understanding this word requires recognizing the tension between the 'self' and 'time'.

“他这个人就是太心急，总是想一口吃个胖子。” (Tā zhège rén jiùshì tài xīnjí, zǒngshì xiǎng yīkǒu chī gè pàngzi.)

Usage in Modern Life: In the digital age, 心急 is more relevant than ever. We feel it when the Wi-Fi is slow, when the food delivery is late, or when we are waiting for a 'like' on social media. It captures the 'instant gratification' culture's psychological toll.

Using 心急 correctly involves understanding its grammatical role as a stative verb (which functions like an adjective in English). It rarely stands alone and is usually preceded by degree adverbs like 很 (hěn - very), 太 (tài - too), or 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr - a bit).

Structure: Subject + Adverb + 心急: This is the most common way to describe someone's state. For example, '我有点儿心急' means 'I am a bit impatient/anxious.' It describes the person's current feeling regarding a specific situation.

“看到孩子还没回家，妈妈心里很心急。” (Kàndào háizi hái méi huíjiā, māma xīnlǐ hěn xīnjí.) — "Seeing that the child hadn't come home yet, the mother felt very anxious in her heart."

Another important usage is as a modifier for actions. You can use 心急 to explain *why* someone is doing something in a hurried or careless manner. Often, the structure 心急地 (xīnjí de) is used to function as an adverbial phrase.

The Famous Proverb: You cannot discuss the usage of this word without mentioning the idiom: “心急吃不了热豆腐” (Xīnjí chī bùliǎo rè dòufu). Literally, 'An impatient heart cannot eat hot tofu.' It means that if you rush things, you will fail or get hurt, just as you would burn your mouth if you tried to eat hot tofu too quickly. It's a quintessential Chinese way of advising patience.

“别心急，慢慢来，质量第一。” (Bié xīnjí, mànman lái, zhìliàng dìyī.) — "Don't be impatient, take it slow, quality comes first."

In business contexts, 心急 is often used when discussing deadlines or project progress. If a manager is pushing too hard, employees might say the manager is too 心急. Conversely, a salesperson might be 心急 to close a deal before the end of the quarter. In these cases, the word highlights the pressure of time and the desire for a result.

“他心急着要去机场，所以没吃早饭。” (Tā xīnjízhe yào qù jīchǎng, suǒyǐ méi chī zǎofàn.) — "He was anxious to go to the airport, so he didn't eat breakfast."

Negation: To say 'not impatient,' use 不 (bù). '我不心急' (I am not impatient). This is often used to reassure someone that you are willing to wait as long as necessary.

In real-life Mandarin, 心急 is a high-frequency word that pops up in numerous daily scenarios. You will hear it in the kitchen, in the office, and even in romantic relationships. It is a word that describes the universal human struggle with the passage of time.

In the Family Home: Parents often use this word with children. When a child is trying to open a present before their birthday, or when they are trying to run before they can walk, a parent will say, '别心急'. It's a gentle way of teaching the value of waiting and doing things properly.

“饭还没熟呢，你别心急。” (Fàn hái méi shú ne, nǐ bié xīnjí.) — "The rice isn't cooked yet, don't be impatient."

In the professional world, 心急 describes the 'go-getter' attitude, but often with a warning. A mentor might tell a young employee not to be too 心急 for a promotion. It implies that mastery takes time and that rushing the process might lead to a lack of foundational skills. You'll hear it in meetings when someone suggests a shortcut that might be risky.

In Romantic Contexts: Relationships are a prime area for 心急. If one person wants to move the relationship forward faster than the other (e.g., getting married or moving in), friends might advise, '不要太心急，给对方一点空间' (Don't be too impatient, give the other person some space). It highlights the emotional urgency involved in love.

You will also find 心急 in news headlines, especially those related to the economy or sports. For instance, '球迷心急如焚' (Fans are burning with anxiety) might describe the state of supporters during a close match. In literature, it is used to heighten the emotional stakes of a scene, showing a character's desperation to reach a goal or save a loved one.

“由于他太心急，结果在比赛中犯了错。” (Yóuyú tā tài xīnjí, jiéguǒ zài bǐsài zhōng fànle cuò.) — "Because he was too impatient, he ended up making a mistake in the competition."

Modern Slang and Variation: While 心急 is standard, younger generations might use '急死了' (jí sǐ le - worried/impatient to death) to express a more extreme version of the same feeling. However, 心急 remains the more formal and psychologically descriptive term.

For English speakers, the most common mistake when using 心急 is confusing it with its close relative, 着急 (zháojí). While they are often interchangeable in casual speech, they have distinct nuances that are important for reaching higher levels of fluency.

Confusion with '着急' (zháojí): 着急 is a broader term that means 'worried' or 'in a rush'. If you lose your keys and are looking for them because you are late for a meeting, you are 着急. 心急, however, is more about the internal desire for something to happen faster. It's an 'impatient heart'. You are 心急 for the weekend to come, but you are 着急 to finish a report by 5 PM.

Incorrect: “我找不到我的钱包，我很心急。” (Wǒ zhǎo bù dào wǒ de qiánbāo, wǒ hěn xīnjí.)
Correct: “我找不到我的钱包，我很着急。” (Wǒ zhǎo bù dào wǒ de qiánbāo, wǒ hěn zháojí.)

Another mistake is overusing the word in situations where 'hurry' (赶 - gǎn) is more appropriate. If you are literally running to catch a bus, you are 赶时间 (gǎn shíjiān - rushing for time), not necessarily 心急. 心急 describes the emotion, while 赶 describes the physical act of rushing.

The 'Very' Trap: In Chinese, stative verbs like 心急 often require '很' (hěn) even if you don't mean 'very'. Saying '我心急' can sound incomplete or like a comparison. Always add an adverb: '我很心急'.

Incorrect: “他太心急地跑了。” (Tā tài xīnjí de pǎo le.) — This is grammatically awkward.
Correct: “他因为心急，跑得很快。” (Tā yīnwèi xīnjí, pǎo de hěn kuài.) — "Because he was impatient, he ran very fast."

While 心急 is a great all-purpose word, Chinese offers a rich vocabulary for different types of impatience and anxiety. Choosing the right one can make your speech sound much more native and precise.

1. 着急 (zháojí): The most common alternative. Use this for general worry or when you are in a rush. It is more about the external situation than the internal personality trait. If the house is on fire, you are 着急, not just 心急.
2. 焦急 (jiāojí): A more formal and intense word. '焦' means 'burnt'. This describes a burning anxiety, often when waiting for critical news, like medical results or exam scores. It has a stronger emotional weight than 心急.
3. 迫不及待 (pòbùjídài): A four-character idiom (chengyu) meaning 'too impatient to wait'. Use this when someone is extremely excited to do something, like opening a present or starting a vacation. It is more positive and energetic than 心急.

“他迫不及待地想告诉大家这个好消息。” (Tā pòbùjídài de xiǎng gàosù dàjiā zhège hǎo xiāoxī.) — "He was too impatient to wait to tell everyone the good news."

4. 急躁 (jízào): This describes a personality trait of being irritable and impatient. While 心急 can be a temporary state, 急躁 is a more permanent flaw in character. An 'impatient' boss who shouts at employees is 急躁.

In summary, choose 心急 when you want to emphasize the 'hurried heart'—that internal feeling of wanting time to move faster. Use the alternatives when the situation is specifically about worry, extreme excitement, or a personality flaw. By mastering these distinctions, you will speak Chinese with much greater nuance.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient Chinese medicine, 'jí' was associated with the fire element, which explains why many idioms for impatience involve 'burning' or 'fire'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK xīn jí

US xīn jí

Equal stress on both syllables in Mandarin.

Rhymes With

亲 (qīn) 金 (jīn) 林 (lín) 民 (mín) 急 (jí - rhymes with '级' jí, '极' jí) 皮 (pí) 题 (tí) 离 (lí)

Common Errors

Using the 3rd tone for 'ji' (jǐ) instead of the 2nd tone (jí).
Pronouncing 'xin' like 'sin' instead of the sharper Mandarin 'x'.
Failing to sustain the high pitch of the first tone.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Characters are relatively common and easy to recognize.

Writing 3/5

Writing 'jí' (急) requires attention to the stroke order of the bottom 'heart' radical.

Speaking 2/5

Tones are straightforward, but the 'x' sound needs practice.

Listening 2/5

Easily distinguishable in clear speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

心急很不人

Learn Next

着急焦急耐心豆腐慢慢

Advanced

迫不及待操之过急急躁焦虑稳重

Grammar to Know

Stative Verbs as Adjectives

他很心急。

Adverbial 'de' (地)

他心急地走了。

Degree Adverbs

太心急 / 非常心急。

Causal Conjunctions

因为心急，所以...

Comparative 'Yuè... Yuè...'

越心急越慢。

Examples by Level

我很心急。

I am very impatient.

Subject + Adverb + Adjective

你别心急。

Don't be impatient.

Negative command

他心急吗？

Is he impatient?

Simple question with 'ma'

我不心急。

I am not impatient.

Negation with 'bu'

妈妈很心急。

Mom is very anxious.

Simple sentence

老师，别心急。

Teacher, don't be impatient.

Addressing someone

他们都很心急。

They are all very impatient.

Plural subject

有点儿心急。

A bit impatient.

Degree adverb 'yǒudiǎnr'

心急吃不了热豆腐。

Haste makes waste.

Common proverb

他太心急了，所以没做好。

He was too impatient, so he didn't do it well.

Cause and effect with 'suǒyǐ'

我心急着见我的朋友。

I am anxious to see my friend.

Verb + zhe (continuous state)

你为什么这么心急？

Why are you so impatient?

Question with 'wèishénme'

别为这件事心急。

Don't be anxious about this matter.

Preposition 'wèi' (for)

他是一个心急的人。

He is an impatient person.

Noun modifier with 'de'

虽然我很心急，但我会等的。

Although I am impatient, I will wait.

Conjunction 'suīrán... dànshì'

大家都很心急地等着结果。

Everyone is impatiently waiting for the results.

Adverbial with 'de'

看到比赛快结束了，教练非常心急。

Seeing the game was almost over, the coach was very anxious.

Complex sentence with a time clause

他心急如焚地寻找丢失的钥匙。

He searched for his lost keys with burning anxiety.

Idiom used as an adverb

如果你太心急，可能会错过重要的细节。

If you are too impatient, you might miss important details.

Conditional 'rúguǒ'

他心急着要把工作做完。

He is anxious to finish the work.

Resultative complement focus

这种心急的情绪是可以理解的。

This kind of impatient emotion is understandable.

Abstract noun usage

他因为心急而犯了一个低级错误。

He made a basic mistake because of impatience.

Cause with 'yīnwèi... ér'

别心急，成功需要时间。

Don't be impatient; success takes time.

Inspirational context

他心急地看了一眼手表。

He glanced at his watch impatiently.

Adverbial 'de' + verb

这种心急反映了他对成功的强烈渴望。

This impatience reflects his strong desire for success.

Noun phrase as subject

在现代社会，人们往往变得越来越心急。

In modern society, people tend to become more and more impatient.

Comparison 'yuè lái yuè'

由于他过于心急，导致了整个项目的失败。

Because he was overly impatient, it led to the failure of the entire project.

Cause and result with 'dǎozhì'

他表面冷静，其实心里非常心急。

He looks calm on the surface, but actually, he is very anxious inside.

Contrast 'biǎomiàn... qíshí'

我们不能心急，必须按步骤来。

We can't be impatient; we must follow the steps.

Modal verb 'bìxū'

他心急地想证明自己的能力。

He is impatient to prove his ability.

Infinitive-like structure with 'xiǎng'

那种心急的感觉让他无法入睡。

That feeling of anxiety made him unable to fall asleep.

Resultative 'wúfǎ'

别让心急毁了你的计划。

Don't let impatience ruin your plan.

Causative 'ràng'

投资者对市场回报的心急是可以预见的。

Investors' impatience for market returns is foreseeable.

Formal academic style

这种心态并非偶然，而是长期压力的产物。

This mindset is not accidental, but a product of long-term pressure.

Formal contrast 'fēibì... érshì'

他那心急如焚的模样让在场的所有人都感到不安。

His burning anxiety made everyone present feel uneasy.

Complex noun phrase as subject

在科学研究中，心急往往是严谨性的敌人。

In scientific research, impatience is often the enemy of rigor.

Philosophical statement

他心急地跨过了必要的法律程序。

He impatiently bypassed the necessary legal procedures.

Adverbial modifying a complex action

这种对权力的心急最终导致了他的政治生涯终结。

This impatience for power eventually led to the end of his political career.

Abstract cause and effect

尽管他表现得不心急，但他的眼神出卖了他。

Although he acted as if he wasn't impatient, his eyes gave him away.

Subtle emotional description

心急之下，他做出了一个令自己后悔终生的决定。

In a moment of impatience, he made a decision he would regret for the rest of his life.

Prepositional phrase '...zhīxià'

这种心急，实则是对时间流逝的一种无声抗议。

This impatience is, in reality, a silent protest against the passage of time.

Metaphorical analysis

他在文字中流露出的心急，揭示了其内心深处的动荡。

The impatience revealed in his writing uncovers the turmoil deep within his heart.

Literary criticism style

当下的社会节奏，无时无刻不在催生着人们的心急。

The current pace of society is constantly giving birth to people's impatience.

Double negative 'wúshíwúkè bù'

他那近乎病态的心急，源于童年时期的匮乏感。

His almost pathological impatience stems from a sense of deprivation in childhood.

Psychological depth

在宏大的历史叙事中，个人的心急往往显得微不足道。

In grand historical narratives, individual impatience often appears insignificant.

Philosophical contrast

他心急地想要在有生之年完成这部巨著。

He is impatiently wanting to complete this masterpiece within his lifetime.

Poetic expression

这种心急如火的情绪，唯有时间的磨砺方能平息。

This fire-like impatience can only be calmed by the tempering of time.

Highly formal/literary

他在这场博弈中因心急而露了破绽。

He showed a flaw in this game because of his impatience.

Nuanced strategic context

Common Collocations

很心急

心急如焚

别心急

太心急

心急着

有点儿心急

心急的人

因为心急

不要心急

表现得心急

Common Phrases

心急吃不了热豆腐

— Haste makes waste. You can't achieve quality by rushing.

别急着求成，心急吃不了热豆腐。

心急如火

— Extremely impatient, as if having a fire in the heart.

他心急如火地赶往医院。

心急火燎

— Extremely restless and impatient.

等了两个小时，他心急火燎的。

心急求成

— Being in too much of a hurry to succeed.

心急求成往往适得其反。

心急如焚

— Burning with anxiety.

找不到孩子，父母心急如焚。

别心急

— Take it easy / Don't rush.

别心急，我们还有时间。

过于心急

— Excessively impatient.

他过于心急，反而搞砸了。

心里心急

— Feeling impatient inside.

他虽然没说，但心里很心急。

莫要心急

— Do not be impatient (slightly formal).

凡事莫要心急。

越心急越...

— The more impatient you are, the more...

越心急越容易出错。

Often Confused With

心急 vs 着急

着急 is more about worry; 心急 is about wanting speed.

心急 vs 赶时间

赶时间 is a physical act of rushing; 心急 is the emotion.

心急 vs 急躁

急躁 is a negative personality trait; 心急 can be a temporary state.

Idioms & Expressions

"心急如焚"

— Heart burning with anxiety; extremely worried.

由于还没收到录取通知，他心急如焚。

Formal

"心急火燎"

— To be in a state of extreme restlessness and impatience.

他等得心急火燎，不停地踱步。

Informal

"操之过急"

— To act with undue haste; to rush things.

改革不能操之过急，要稳步推进。

Formal

"迫不及待"

— Too impatient to wait; itching to do something.

他迫不及待地想尝试新车。

Neutral

"急功近利"

— Eager for quick success and instant benefits.

做学问不能急功近利。

Academic

"急不可待"

— So urgent that one cannot wait.

他急不可待地推门而入。

Literary

"急于求成"

— Anxious for quick results.

学习外语不能急于求成。

Neutral

"急如星火"

— As urgent as a shooting star or a spark.

边境传来急如星火的消息。

Literary

"气急败坏"

— Flustered and exasperated (often from failure).

他气急败坏地离开了办公室。

Negative

"急中生智"

— To hit upon a bright idea in a moment of desperation.

他在急中生智，想出了一个好办法。

Positive

Easily Confused

心急 vs 焦急

Both mean anxious/impatient.

焦急 is much more intense and formal, often involving high stakes.

他在手术室外焦急地等待。

心急 vs 急促

Both share the 'ji' character.

急促 describes the pace of something, like breathing or a knock, not an emotion.

他的呼吸变得很急促。

心急 vs 急忙

Both imply hurry.

急忙 is an adverb meaning 'hurriedly' or 'in a rush' to do an action.

他急忙穿上衣服出门了。

心急 vs 迫切

Both mean urgent.

迫切 describes a situation or need that requires immediate attention.

这是一个迫切的问题。

心急 vs 热切

Both involve the heart/emotions.

热切 means 'earnest' or 'fervent' in a positive way, not impatient.

他表达了热切的希望。

Sentence Patterns

Subject + 很 + 心急

我很心急。

别 + 心急

别心急。

Subject + 太 + 心急 + 了

你太心急了。

Subject + 心急地 + Verb

他心急地跑了。

Subject + 心急着 + Verb

我心急着回家。

因为 + 心急 + Result

因为心急，他做错了。

Noun + 的 + 心急

投资者的心急。

心急之下 + Action

心急之下，他说了谎。

Word Family

Nouns

心急 (the state of impatience)

急躁 (impatience/irratibility)

Verbs

着急 (to worry/hurry)

急于 (to be anxious to)

Adjectives

心急的 (impatient)

急促的 (hurried/short)

心理

急救

急事

心情

焦急

How to Use It

frequency

Very common in daily life and literature.

Common Mistakes

Using '心急' instead of '紧急' for a situation. → 这是一个紧急的情况。
'心急' is for people's feelings. '紧急' is for urgent situations.
Saying '我心急' without an adverb. → 我很心急。
Chinese adjectives usually need a degree adverb like '很' to be grammatically complete.
Using '心急' to mean 'worried about a mistake'. → 我很担心。
'心急' is about speed. '担心' (dānxīn) is about worry/concern.
Confusing '心急' with '急忙'. → 他急忙走了。
'急忙' is an adverb meaning 'hurriedly'. '心急' is the feeling behind the hurry.
Writing the heart radical on the side. → 急 (heart at the bottom).
The 'heart' (心) in '急' is a bottom radical, not a side radical (忄).

Tips

Context Matters

Use '心急' when the focus is on the heart's desire for speed. If you're just worried you'll be late for a movie, '着急' is safer.

Don't Forget 'Hen'

In Chinese, simple adjectives often need '很' (hěn) to sound natural in a sentence. '我心急' sounds like a comparison.

The Tofu Proverb

Learning '心急吃不了热豆腐' will impress native speakers and show you understand Chinese wisdom.

Heart + Urgent

Remember the components. Your heart (心) is in an urgent (急) state.

Stroke Order

The 'heart' radical at the bottom of '急' is crucial. Practice writing it to remember the word.

Softening the Blow

If you want to tell someone to wait, '别心急' is softer than '等一下' (Wait a second).

Tone Accuracy

The second tone in 'jí' should rise clearly, like you are asking a question in English.

Recognize Idioms

If you hear '心急如...', it's likely a descriptive idiom. '焚' (burning) is the most common ending.

Natural Speed

Don't say 'xīn' and 'jí' too slowly. It's a common word, so it's usually spoken quite quickly.

Nuance

As you get better, try to use '心急' to describe your internal state and '赶' for your external actions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of your 'Heart' (心) running a 'Race' (急). Your heart is beating fast because it wants to reach the finish line now!

Visual Association

Imagine a person standing in front of a microwave, staring at the timer with a 'heart' icon above their head that has little running legs.

Word Web

Wait Rush Heart Time Proverb Anxiety Eager Calm

Challenge

Try to go an entire hour without feeling 心急. If you feel it, say the word out loud to acknowledge the feeling.

Word Origin

The character 心 (xīn) represents the heart, historically viewed as the organ of thought and emotion. 急 (jí) originally depicted a person rushing or a hand clutching a heart, signifying urgency.

Original meaning: A heart in a state of urgency or pressure.

Sino-Tibetan

Cultural Context

Calling someone '心急' can be a mild criticism of their character, suggesting they lack composure.

English speakers might say 'I'm itching to...' or 'I can't wait', which are often more positive than 心急.

Proverb: 心急吃不了热豆腐 Song: 心急吃不了热豆腐 (various pop songs) Movie: Common theme in Chinese dramas where a character's impatience leads to a plot twist.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Waiting for someone

你在哪儿？我很心急。
别心急，我马上到。
他等得心急了。
大家都等得很心急。

Working on a task

不要心急求成。
他心急着做完。
心急容易出错。
慢慢来，别心急。

Waiting for news

他心急如焚地等电话。
结果还没出来，我很心急。
全家人都很心急。
别为这事儿心急。

Learning a skill

学中文不能心急。
你太心急了。
心急学不会。
要有耐心，别心急。

Cooking

火太大是因为心急。
心急吃不了热豆腐。
别心急，还没熟。
他心急地尝了一口。

Conversation Starters

"你通常在什么情况下会感到心急？ (In what situations do you usually feel impatient?)"

"你觉得你是那种心急的人吗？ (Do you think you are an impatient person?)"

"当别人对你心急时，你会有什么感觉？ (How do you feel when others are impatient with you?)"

"你同意“心急吃不了热豆腐”这句话吗？为什么？ (Do you agree with 'Haste makes waste'? Why?)"

"在你的文化里，心急是一件坏事吗？ (In your culture, is being impatient a bad thing?)"

Journal Prompts

描写一次你因为心急而犯错的经历。 (Describe a time when you made a mistake because you were impatient.)

讨论一下现代科技是如何让我们变得更心急的。 (Discuss how modern technology makes us more impatient.)

写一封信给未来的自己，告诉自己为什么要学会不心急。 (Write a letter to your future self about why you should learn not to be impatient.)

你认为“心急”和“效率”之间有什么关系？ (What do you think is the relationship between 'impatience' and 'efficiency'?)

描述一个你认识的非常心急的人。 (Describe an impatient person you know.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, '心急' is used to describe a person's feelings or character. For an urgent situation, use '紧急' (jǐnjí).

It is generally neutral but can be negative if it implies a lack of patience that leads to mistakes. Context is key.

The most common way is '我很心急' (I'm very impatient/anxious) or '别心急' (Don't be impatient).

You can say '我心急着见你' or '我迫不及待地想见你' (more common for excitement).

In English 'impatience' is a noun, but in Chinese '心急' usually functions as an adjective. You'd say '他的心急' (his impatience) in specific contexts, but it's less common than the adjectival use.

It means that rushing a process (like eating hot, soft tofu) will only lead to failure or pain. It's a plea for patience.

Not exactly. Stress is '压力' (yālì). '心急' is the specific feeling of wanting time to move faster.

Yes, if you are the one feeling impatient about the deadline approaching.

Be careful with tones! '心急' is xīn jí. '新机' (xīn jī) means 'new machine' or 'new opportunity'.

Yes, it means 'He ran away impatiently/anxiously'.