早そう急きゅう

also: さっきゅう

そ

う

きゅ

う

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

na-adjective, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun

immediate; prompt; urgent

Describes something that needs to be done or dealt with very soon, without delay. Often used in formal or business contexts to emphasize urgency.

早そう急きゅうな対たい応おうが必ひつ要ようです。
An immediate response is necessary.
この問もん題だいは早そう急きゅうに解かい決けつしなければならない。
This problem must be resolved urgently.
早そう急きゅうのご返へん事じをお待まちしております。
We look forward to your prompt reply.

See all 55 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉に早そう急きゅうに対たい応おうするto respond promptly to a matter
苦く情じょうには早そう急きゅうに対たい応おうしてください。
Please respond promptly to the complaint.
早そう急きゅうな対たい策さくを講こうじるto take immediate countermeasures
問もん題だい解かい決けつのため早そう急きゅうな対たい策さくを講こうじることになった。
It was decided that immediate measures would be taken to solve the problem.
早そう急きゅうに〈動どう詞し〉to do something without delay
早そう急きゅうに改かい善ぜんする必ひつ要ようがある。
There is a need to improve this immediately.
早そう急きゅうなご対たい応おうをお願ねがいいたしますto politely request a prompt response (business set phrase)
早そう急きゅうなご対たい応おうをお願ねがいいたします。
We kindly ask for your prompt response.

Kanji

早early, fast
急hurry, emergency, sudden

Related words· 9

緊きん急きゅうN1
緊急 describes an emergency situation itself, while 早急 focuses on how quickly a response or action must be taken.
迅じん速そくN1
迅速 describes the swiftness of how an action is carried out, while 早急 stresses that the action must not be delayed.
至し急きゅうN2
至急 is used as a direct, urgent demand (often in messages or requests), whereas 早急 is a more formal adjective describing the needed promptness of a matter.
速すみやかN1
速やか describes a smooth, prompt manner of doing something without necessarily implying urgency, while 早急 emphasizes that delay is unacceptable.

Show 5 more

急きゅうN3
早急 stresses acting 'as quickly as possible' about a task, while 急 more broadly describes something being urgent or sudden.
早そう期きN1
早急 emphasizes urgency and speed of action, whereas 早期 simply denotes an early point or stage in time.
急いそぎ
早急 stresses doing something 'promptly and without delay' in formal/business contexts, while 急ぎ is the everyday word for hurrying.
大おお急いそぎN1
早急 is a stiff, business-register word for needing prompt action, whereas 大急ぎ is the everyday word for personal haste.
急きゅう遽きょN1
早急 describes something that must be done immediately (as a な-adjective), while 急遽 describes the act of doing something hurriedly.

Opposites

悠ゆう長ちょう
悠長 describes an unhurried, leisurely attitude, the opposite of the pressing promptness implied by 早急.

Don't confuse with

性せい急きゅうN1
性急 (a similar sound to 早急) describes a hasty, impatient personality or manner, while 早急 describes the urgent need for something to be done soon.
急きゅう速そくN2
早急 means 'urgent, needing to be done immediately,' whereas 急速 describes the speed of a process itself, not the urgency of an action.

Written forms

早急Usage100%
- そうきゅう
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading そうきゅう is the most common and widely accepted.
- さっきゅう
  Alternate reading; originally a misreading but now widely used and accepted in many contexts. Some speakers consider it less formal.
さっきゅうUsage<1%

Etymology

Compound of 早 (early, fast) and 急 (urgent, sudden). The reading そうきゅう is the original on'yomi-based reading; さっきゅう arose as a common misreading that became accepted over time.