Usage note
着急用来表达当事情进展不如预期时，人们感到焦虑的心情。
zháo jí lái yòng bǎo chū dāng shì qing zhāng bù rú yù kuài shí ， rén men gǎn jué de xiá nüè xīn qíng 。
着急 is used to express the anxiety people feel when things don't progress as expected.
Context note
这个词语常用于描述家庭、学校或工作中的情况，比如父母担心孩子考试成绩，老师担心学生作业完成情况等。
zhège cí yǔ cháng yòng bū miáo huì jiā tíng 、 xué xiào huò gōng zuò zhōng de kuàng chǎng ， rú mǔ qīn dān xīn háizi kǎo shì jì chéng ， lǎoshī dān xīn xuéshēng zuòyè wánchéng qíngkuàng děng 。
This word is commonly used to describe situations in family, school, or work, such as parents worrying about their child's exam results, teachers worrying about students' homework completion, etc.
5 examples
妈妈着急孩子的学习。
mā ma zháo jí hái zi de xué xí。
Mom is anxious about her child's studies.
老师很着急学生的进步。
lǎo shī hěn zháo jí xué shēng de jìn bù。
The teacher is very anxious about the students' progress.
他着急赶不上火车。
tā zháo jí gǎn bú shàng huǒ chē。
He is anxious about missing the train.
我们都很着急这个项目。
wǒ men dōu hěn zháo jí zhè ge xiàng mù。
We are all anxious about this project.
她很着急等公交车。
tā hěn zháo jí děng gōng jiāo chē。
She is very anxious waiting for the bus.
5 mini stories
妈妈看到孩子的成绩下降，着急地问老师原因。爸爸下班后也着急地回家看孩子作业。
mā ma kàn dào hái zi de chéng jì xià jiàng， zháo jí dì wèn lǎo shī yuán yīn。 bà ba xià bān hòu yě zháo jí dì huí jiā kàn hái zi zuò yè。
Mom was anxious to ask the teacher about the reason when she saw her child's grades drop. Dad came home anxiously after work to check his child's homework.
老师看到学生没完成作业，着急地提醒他们按时交作业。学生们也着急地开始做作业。
lǎo shī kàn dào xué shēng méi wán chéng zuò yè， zhe jí dì tí xǐng tā men àn shí jiāo zuò yè。 xué shēng men yě zháo jí dì kāi shǐ zuò zuò yè。
The teacher was anxious to remind the students to submit their homework on time. The students were also anxious to start doing their homework.
他因为迟到而着急赶公交车，结果还是没赶上。
tā yīn wèi chí dào ér zháo jí gǎn gōng jiāo chē， jié guǒ hái shì méi gǎn shàng。
He was anxious to catch the bus because he was late, but still missed it.
她很着急地等朋友来参加聚会，但朋友迟到了。
tā hěn zháo jí dì děng péng yǒu lái cān jiā jù huì， dàn péng yǒu chí dào le。
She was very anxious waiting for her friend to come to the party, but the friend was late.
他因为没带伞而着急赶路回家，结果还是被雨淋湿了。
tā yīn wèi méi dài sǎn ér zháo jí gǎn lù huí jiā， jié guǒ hái shì bèi yǔ lín shī le。
He was anxious to rush home without an umbrella, but still got wet in the rain.
Mini dialogue
找书包
A
你怎么了？别着急。
Nǐ zěnme le? Bié zháo jí.
What's wrong? Don't worry.
B
我的书包不见了，我很着急。
Wǒ de shūbāo bú jiàn le, wǒ hěn zháo jí.
My schoolbag is missing, I'm very anxious.
等妈妈
A
妈妈还没来，我有点着急。
Māma hái méi lái, wǒ yǒudiǎn zháo jí.
Mom hasn't come yet, I'm a little anxious.
B
别着急，我们在这里等她。
Bié zháo jí, wǒmen zài zhèlǐ děng tā.
Don't worry, let's wait for her here.
Related words and contrasts
similar
担心
dān xīn
worried
着急 is more urgent; 担心 is more about worry.
similar
紧张
jǐn zhāng
nervous
紧张 often describes a physical feeling of nervousness.
opposite
平静
píng jìng
calm
着急 means anxious; 平静 means calm and peaceful.