Word
急激
Meaning in Englishsudden, rapid, sharp
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
急激 means occurring very quickly or abruptly; it describes a rapid, drastic change or increase in degree, rate, or intensity, typically used for dynamic processes and in formal, technical contexts.
Main meanings
- Rapid or drastic change in degree or pace
- Used before a noun with the な-form as 急激なX to modify it
- Common in scientific, economic, and news contexts to describe abrupt developments
How to use it
In usage, 急激 is used to describe swift changes in quantities or rates, such as temperature, prices, or levels of growth or intensity; it's formal and common in technical writing, journalism, and policy discussions; it attaches to nouns through the な-form as 急激な変化, 急激な増加, etc.
Variants and close terms
- 急速な (kyuusoku na) — rapid, swift
- 突然の (totsuzun no) — sudden, abrupt
- 劇的な (geki-teki na) — dramatic, striking
- 漸進的な (zenshin-teki na) — gradual; opposite nuance
Composition
- 急: fast, urgent
- 激: intense, fierce
Etymology
急 on-reading kyuu; 激 on-reading geki; A Sino-Japanese compound formed from two on-yomi kanji that together convey a sense of speed and intensity, yielding a word read kyuugeki.
Word class
adjective (na-adjective, 形容動詞)
Related words by kanji and components
N1
激励
gekirei
encouragement
N1
応急
oukyuu
emergency
N1
緊急
kinkyuu
urgent, pressing, emergency
N1
準急
junkyuu
local express (train, slower than an express)
N1
急かす
sekasu
to hurry, to urge on
N1
早急
soukyuu
urgent
N2
感激
kangeki
deep emotion, impression, inspiration
N2
激増
gekizou
sudden increase
N3
至急
shikyuu
urgent, immediately