급하다 vs 절박하다
Korean word comparison
Listen to 급하다
Listen to 절박하다
| 급하다 | 절박하다 |
|---|---|
geup-HA-da adjective | jeol-bak-ha-da adjective |
| to be urgent; to be in a hurry; pressing and needing attention right away | to be desperate; to be urgent in a serious, pressing way |
How they differ
절박하다 is stronger and more serious than 급하다. It suggests a desperate, last-resort urgency, often because of a major problem or need, while 급하다 can simply mean that something needs attention soon or that you are in a hurry.
When to use each
When to use 급하다: Use 급하다 when you mean something is urgent, time-sensitive, or you are rushing.
When to use 절박하다: Use 절박하다 when the urgency feels desperate, serious, or emotionally intense.
Side-by-side examples
- 지금 답이 급하다.
(I need an answer urgently right now.) - 그는 돈이 절박해서 아무 일이나 하려고 했다.
(He was so desperate for money that he was willing to do any job.)
Register & nuance: 절박하다 is more intense and often used in serious, emotionally heavy contexts than 급하다.