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急促 (jí cù) — rapid, hurried, urgent (of breath, footsteps, speech, etc.)

Definition

急促 describes a rapid, urgent pace — typically breath, speech, or footsteps. Stronger/more abrupt than 匆忙 (general haste) or 迅速 (neutral speed); close to 急迫 in urgency but 急促 is concrete and physical.

adjective
rapidhurriedurgent (of breath, footsteps, speech, etc.)

Examples

  • 急促。
    Tā pǎo bù hòu hū xī hěn jí cù.
    His breathing was rapid after running.
  • 急促。
    Cóng diàn huà lǐ chuán lái jí cù de qiú jiù shēng.
    Urgent cries for help came from the phone.
  • ，急促。
    Tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi, tā de xīn tiào biàn de jí cù.
    Upon hearing this news, his heart rate became rapid.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

急jíurgent
促cùhurried

急 and 促 both give the sense of being hurried, short, and pressing.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí急jí
Same sound today

急 pairs 心 (heart) with 及, which gives the sound.

Open 急 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
足
足zú促cù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

促 pairs 亻 (person, written 人 when complete) with 足, which helps show its sound.

Open 促 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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