急促 describes a rapid, hurried, and urgent pace, specifically of repeated actions like breath, footsteps, speech, or heartbeat — it often conveys tension. Unlike the general 急 (jí, 'urgent/rapid'), 急促 emphasizes the rhythm and brevity of these actions. It also differs from 急迫 (jí pò), which focuses on the urgency of a situation rather than the speed of a recurring motion.