Keywords: jizao, 急躁, jizao meaning, Chinese for impatient, impetuous in Chinese, irritable in Chinese, rash, hot-tempered, jizao vs zhaoji, Chinese culture patience, HSK 4 vocabulary.
Summary: Learn the meaning of 急躁 (jízào), a common Chinese adjective used to describe someone who is impatient, impetuous, and easily irritated. This comprehensive guide explores its cultural significance, contrasting with the Western “hustle” mindset, and provides practical examples for everyday conversation. Understand why being 急躁 (jízào) is viewed negatively in Chinese culture and learn how to use it correctly to describe a temporary mood or a personality trait.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): jízào
Part of Speech: Adjective
HSK Level: HSK 4
Concise Definition: Describes a state of being impatient, restless, and prone to acting rashly or becoming irritable.
In a Nutshell:急躁 (jízào) is more than just not wanting to wait. It's an internal state of agitation and a lack of composure. Imagine feeling so rushed and anxious that you can't think clearly, get easily annoyed with delays, and might make sloppy mistakes. It's the feeling of “I need this done NOW!” combined with a hot-tempered, restless energy. It almost always has a negative connotation.
Character Breakdown
急 (jí): This character means “urgent,” “anxious,” or “in a hurry.” The top part can be associated with a person, and the bottom part, 心 (xīn), means “heart.” So, 急 (jí) fundamentally represents a feeling of urgency or anxiety in one's heart.
躁 (zào): This character means “restless,” “agitated,” or “impetuous.” It's composed of the foot radical 足 (zú) on the left and 品 (pǐn) on the right. The foot radical strongly suggests physical restlessness—fidgeting, pacing, or an inability to stay still.
Together, 急躁 (jízào) paints a vivid picture: a heart full of urgency (急) combined with a restless, agitated body (躁). This fusion creates the meaning of a person who is not only mentally impatient but also physically unable to be calm, leading to irritability and rash actions.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, patience (耐心 nàixīn) and composure (冷静 lěngjìng) are highly esteemed virtues. Traditional philosophies, from Daoism to Confucianism, emphasize balance, deliberation, and harmony. The idiom 三思而后行 (sān sī ér hòu xíng) - “think three times before acting” - perfectly encapsulates this value.
急躁 (jízào) is the direct antithesis of this ideal. It is seen as a sign of immaturity, a lack of self-control, and poor cultivation. A person who is 急躁 (jízào) is considered unreliable because their impatience may lead them to make careless mistakes, overlook important details, or damage interpersonal relationships (关系 guānxi) by being irritable and difficult.
Comparison to Western Culture: While Western culture, particularly in American business, might sometimes praise a “sense of urgency” or a “move fast and break things” attitude, this is not what 急躁 (jízào) means. A proactive and driven person is admired in both cultures. However, 急躁 (jízào) implies that this urgency has curdled into a negative state of emotional agitation and poor judgment. It's the difference between being efficiently quick and being hastily sloppy. In China, maintaining a calm and thoughtful demeanor, even when under pressure, is far more respected.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Describing Personality: It's frequently used to describe a person's general temperament. For example, “他性子很急躁 (tā xìngzi hěn jízào)” means “He has a very impatient/impetuous personality.”
Describing a Temporary State: It can also describe a temporary mood. For instance, after a stressful day, someone might say, “对不起，我今天有点急躁 (duìbuqǐ, wǒ jīntiān yǒudiǎn jízào),” meaning “Sorry, I'm a bit on edge today.”
In the Workplace: A manager might criticize an employee for being 急躁 (jízào) if they rushed a project and made errors. “做事不能太急躁，要注重细节 (Zuòshì bùnéng tài jízào, yào zhùzhòng xìjié)” - “You can't be too impetuous when you work; you must pay attention to details.”
Connotation and Formality: The connotation is always negative. It's a critique, whether gentle or harsh. It is used in both informal daily conversations and more formal settings like performance reviews.
English: Don't be so impatient. We have plenty of time, take it slow.
Analysis: This is common advice given to someone who is visibly agitated or rushing. “慢慢来 (màn man lái)” is the perfect antidote to a 急躁 (jízào) state of mind.
Example 2:
他性子很急躁，一遇到堵车就发脾气。
Pinyin: Tā xìngzi hěn jízào, yí yù dào dǔchē jiù fā píqì.
English: He has a very impetuous temperament; as soon as he hits a traffic jam, he loses his temper.
Analysis: This example links the personality trait of 急躁 (jízào) to a specific, observable action (losing one's temper, 发脾气 fā píqì).
English: This child is a bit impetuous; whatever he does, he wants to see the results immediately.
Analysis: A perfect description of the core meaning of 急躁 (jízào)—an inability to wait and a demand for instant gratification.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
`急躁 (jízào)` vs. `着急 (zháojí)` - The Most Common Pitfall:
着急 (zháojí): This means “to be worried” or “to feel anxious” about a specific thing. It's a temporary feeling, an internal state of worry.
急躁 (jízào): This is the behavioral manifestation of impatience and irritability. It's how you act when you can't control your anxiety.
Key Difference: You can be 着急 (zháojí) without being 急躁 (jízào). For example, you can be worried (着急) about being late for a flight, but you remain calm and methodically pack your bags. If, however, your worry causes you to start yelling, throwing things in your suitcase carelessly, and getting angry at everyone, you have become 急躁 (jízào).
Incorrect Usage:“I'm so 急躁 (jízào) about my exam tomorrow!” (Incorrect)
Correct Usage:“I'm so 着急 (zháojí) about my exam tomorrow!”
Correct Usage:“He was so 着急 (zháojí) about the exam that he became very 急躁 (jízào) and couldn't study effectively.”
`急躁 (jízào)` vs. “Impatient”: While “impatient” is the closest translation, 急躁 (jízào) carries a stronger negative connotation of irritability and a lack of self-control. In English, you can be “impatient for Christmas to arrive” in an excited, positive way. You would never use 急躁 (jízào) to describe positive anticipation; it always implies a negative, agitated state.
Related Terms and Concepts
耐心 (nàixīn) - The direct antonym: patience; the virtue of being able to wait calmly.
着急 (zháojí) - A related feeling: anxious or worried about a specific outcome. Often the root cause of becoming 急躁 (jízào).
冷静 (lěngjìng) - An antonym: calm, cool-headed, composed. The ideal state to be in, as opposed to 急躁 (jízào).
烦躁 (fánzào) - A very similar term, meaning vexed, annoyed, or irritable. 烦躁 (fánzào) focuses more on the internal feeling of annoyance and agitation, while 急躁 (jízào) often implies an outward display of impetuous action.
冲动 (chōngdòng) - A related action: impulsive, an impulse. Being 急躁 (jízào) often leads to 冲动 (chōngdòng) behavior.
毛躁 (máozào) - A similar term meaning careless, sloppy, or forgetful, often as a result of being in a hurry. It emphasizes the lack of quality in one's actions due to haste.
沉不住气 (chén bu zhù qì) - A common idiom meaning “unable to keep one's cool” or “impatient.” It's a very descriptive way to say someone is 急躁 (jízào).
脾气 (píqì) - Temper, temperament. A 急躁 (jízào) person is often described as having a bad 脾气 (píqì).