‘着急’ is a verb meaning ‘to worry’ or ‘to fret’—a feeling of anxious impatience, often about something urgent or uncertain. The first character 着 (zháo) here functions as a bound morpheme indicating a state or reaction, while 急 (jí) means ‘urgent’ or ‘anxious’. Together, they form an inseparable compound expressing emotional distress tied to time pressure or perceived risk—like waiting for news, missing a deadline, or fearing someone’s safety.

This word is commonly used in everyday spoken and written Chinese, especially in informal or conversational contexts. It can function predicatively (e.g., 他很着急) or as a complement after verbs like 有点, 很, or 别 (e.g., 别着急). Unlike the adjective 急, which can stand alone to mean ‘hurried’, 着急 always carries emotional weight and implies personal concern—not just speed. It’s rarely used in formal reports or academic writing, where terms like 担忧 (dānyōu) or 焦虑 (jiāolǜ) are preferred.