급하다 vs 긴급하다
Korean word comparison
Listen to 급하다
Listen to 긴급하다
| 급하다 | 긴급하다 |
|---|---|
geup-HA-da adjective | gin-geup-ha-da adjective |
| to be urgent; to be in a hurry; pressing and needing attention right away | to be urgent; requiring immediate action |
How they differ
긴급하다 is more formal and objective than 급하다. It is often used for official, medical, or administrative situations where immediate action is required, while 급하다 is more general and can describe both situations and a person’s hurry.
When to use each
When to use 급하다: Use 급하다 in everyday speech for something urgent or for being in a hurry.
When to use 긴급하다: Use 긴급하다 in formal contexts, notices, reports, or situations that require immediate response.
Side-by-side examples
- 지금 처리해야 할 일이 급하다.
(There is something urgent that needs to be handled now.) - 이 환자는 긴급한 치료가 필요하다.
(This patient needs emergency treatment.)
Register & nuance: 긴급하다 is more formal and technical than 급하다, and it is common in announcements and official language.