Translation guide
The concept of moving or acting quickly, often with a sense of urgency. In Japanese, this is expressed through verbs, adverbs, and set phrases that convey speed, rushing, or being in a hurry.
Expressing that someone is hurrying or needs to hurry, often in daily life.
The most common verb for 'to hurry' or 'to be in a hurry'. Can be used for both physical rushing and metaphorical urgency.
The progressive form meaning 'I'm in a hurry' or 'I'm rushing'. Very common in spoken Japanese.
すみません、急いでいるんです。
Sorry, I'm in a hurry.
Means 'to hurry' but with a nuance of fluster or panic. Often used when someone is rushing and making mistakes.
慌てないでください。
Don't rush (and make mistakes).
Describing an action done with speed, without necessarily implying urgency.
Adverb meaning 'quickly' or 'fast'. Used to modify verbs. Can also be used as a command: 'Hurry up!'
早く歩いてください。
Please walk quickly.
早く！
Hurry up!
Adverb meaning 'quickly' or 'without delay', often with a nuance of doing something briskly or without hesitation. Can sound blunt.
Formal adverb meaning 'promptly' or 'speedily'. Used in official or business contexts.
速やかに対応いたします。
We will respond promptly.
Referring to the act of hurrying as a noun or concept.
Noun form of 急ぐ, meaning 'hurry' or 'urgency'. Often used in set phrases.
急ぎの用事があります。
I have an urgent matter.
Noun form of 慌てる, meaning 'haste' or 'fluster'. Often used in the phrase 慌てて (in a fluster).
慌てて家を出た。
I left the house in a rush.
Telling someone to hurry or urging them to be faster.
Causative form of 急ぐ, meaning 'to make someone hurry' or 'to rush someone'.
彼を急がせないでください。
Please don't rush him.
Casual command meaning 'Hurry up!' or 'Do it quickly!'
早くして！遅れるよ。
Hurry up! We'll be late.
急ぐ (isogu) is neutral 'to hurry'. 慌てる (awateru) implies fluster or panic, often leading to mistakes. Use 慌てる when someone is rushing around in confusion.
急いだけど、慌てなかった。
I hurried, but I didn't panic.
急ぐ is a verb. To describe something as 'quick', use 早い (hayai) for speed or 速い (hayai) for fast movement. For example, 'a quick meal' is 早い食事 (hayai shokuji), not 急ぐ食事.
さっさと片付けなさい。
Clean up quickly.