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焦急 (jiāo jí) — anxious, worried

Definition

焦急 is a state of active anxiety, usually about waiting or an urgent situation. Stronger and more restless than 焦虑 (which is more general worry); calmer than 焦躁 (irritable, impatient).

adjective
anxiousworried
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，。
    Tā jiāo jí dì zhàn zài mén kǒu, děng zhe péng you lái jiē tā.
    He stood anxiously at the door, waiting for his friend to pick him up.
  • ，。
    Tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi, tā jiāo jí dé yí yè méi shuì zháo.
    Upon hearing the news, she was so anxious she couldn't sleep all night.
  • ，。
    Bié jiāo jí, wǒ men yí dìng néng zhǎo dào jiě jué bàn fǎ.
    Don't be so anxious; we'll definitely find a solution.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

焦jiāoburning
急jíurgent

Both parts express a burning, urgent feeling, giving the sense of anxiety.

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
隹隹zhuībird
Sound part声符shēngfú
小
小xiǎo焦jiāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The 焦 glyph first paired 隹 (bird) with 小 as a sound part. The 小 part later changed into a fire shape, and the character was then used for scorching.

Open 焦 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Emotions & Feelings

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.