急ぐ vs 至急
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 急ぐ
Listen to 至急
| 急ぐ | 至急 |
|---|---|
i-SO-gu verb | しきゅう verb |
| to hurry; to do something quickly because there is little time | urgently; as soon as possible |
How they differ
急ぐ is a verb meaning to hurry, while 至急 is an adverb or noun-like expression meaning that something must be done urgently. 至急 sounds more formal and is often used in notices, emails, or requests, not as a plain everyday verb.
When to use each
When to use 急ぐ: Use 急ぐ when you are describing the act of hurrying itself.
When to use 至急: Use 至急 when you want to label something as urgent or request immediate attention.
Side-by-side examples
- 急いで帰ります。
(I'll hurry home.) - 至急ご連絡ください。
(Please contact us urgently.)
Register & nuance: 至急 is more formal and businesslike than 急ぐ, and it is common in written requests and announcements.