Meaning and Usage
The adjective '급하다' describes situations or feelings that are urgent, pressing, or require immediate attention. It can refer to time-sensitive matters, emotional urgency, or physical haste.
Common Contexts
You often hear '급하다' when talking about urgent tasks, emergencies, or when someone is in a hurry. It can describe both external circumstances (like an urgent meeting) and internal feelings (like feeling anxious or rushed).
Collocations and Patterns
- '급한 일' (urgent matter): Used to describe something that needs immediate action.
- '급하게 가다' (go in a hurry): Describes moving quickly because of urgency.
- '급하게 결정하다' (decide hastily): Refers to making a quick decision, often with a cautionary tone.
Register and Politeness
'급하다' is neutral and commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. It can be combined with polite endings like '-요' for polite speech.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '급하다' with '서두르다' (to hurry). '급하다' describes the urgency or pressure itself, while '서두르다' is the action of hurrying. For example, '급해서 서둘렀다' means 'I hurried because it was urgent.' Understanding this distinction helps in using the word naturally.