着急 (zháojí) · worried

着急 (zháojí) means “worried; anxious; in a hurry”. It is written with 2 characters: 着 (ongoing-state particle) + 急 (anxious). It is an HSK 3 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).

How 着急 is built

The characters

着 zhe · ongoing-state particle

What 着 is made of

羊yáng — sheep
- 丷ha — kwukyel
  - 丶 — dot
目mù — eye
- 口kǒu — mouth
  - 冂 — frame
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
- 二 — two strokes
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
  - 一 — horizontal stroke

急 jí · anxious

What 急 is made of

刍chú — to mow
- ⺈ — top shape
- 彐jì — snout
  - 二 — two strokes
心xīn — heart

Origin hint: 心 gives the meaning, 刍 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

Example sentences

别着急，慢慢说。Bié zháojí, mànmàn shuō.Don't worry, take your time.

你为什么这么着急？Nǐ wèishénme zhème zháojí?Why are you in such a hurry?

Questions about 着急

What does 着急 mean?

着急 (zháojí) means “worried; anxious; in a hurry”.

How do you pronounce 着急?

着急 is pronounced zháojí.

Which HSK level is 着急?

着急 is in HSK 3 (exam 2025) and HSK 4 (2021) and Old HSK 3.

Related words

Learn 着急 with its group

It is part of HSK 4 (2021) · Group 37: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.

Open the group