gap1 mong4急忙
Jyutpinggap1 mong4
Yalegāp mòhng
Definition
In a hurry; in a rush with a tense mind and quickened movements.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
While 急忙 is understood, native speakers almost always prefer the reduplicated form 急急腳 to describe the physical act of walking or moving quickly. Using the plain form can sound slightly more formal or literary, similar to written Chinese. For a more intense or panicked sense of urgency, speakers often use 趕頭趕命 instead.
Examples
Why are you in such a hurry? Take your time.
Related words
Common phrases
to leave in a hurry
Common mistake
Learners often use 急忙 as a direct translation for any sense of being busy, but it specifically refers to the speed and anxiety of an action, not the state of having many tasks to complete.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
