Isogu is the Japanese verb for ‘to hurry’, explained

What does “isogu” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “isogu” to mean ‘to hurry’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “isogu” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “isogu”
  • Example #1: how to say “hurry” in Japanese
• Isoganai: the nai form of “isogu”
  • Example #2: how to say “not in a hurry” in Japanese
• Isogou: the volitional form of “isogu”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s hurry” in Japanese
• Isogimasu: the masu form of “isogu”
  • Example #4: how to say “in a hurry” politely in Japanese
• Isoida: the past tense form of “isogu”
  • Example #5: how to say “hurried” in Japanese
• Isoide: the te form of “isogu”
  • Example #6: how to say “please hurry up” in Japanese
• Isogeba: the ba form of “isogu”
  • Example #7: how to say “if hurry” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “isogu”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “isogu”.

• isogu – 急ぐ (いそぐ) : a verb meaning ‘to hurry’ in Japanese. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘to be in a hurry’.

The definition and meanings are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “hurry” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “watashi” to make the subject in the sentence.
• maiasa – 毎朝 (まいあさ) : a noun meaning ‘every morning’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb in the middle of the sentence to say “every morning” in Japanese.
• eki – 駅 (えき) : a noun meaning ‘station’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• e – へ : a case particle used to say where someone or something goes. In the example, this is used after “eki” to indicate the place to which the speaker hurries.

This is a typical usage of “isogu”. When we want to mean ‘to hurry’ in Japanese, this verb is a good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “isogu” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “isoganai”.

Isoganai: the nai form of “isogu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “isoganai”.

• isoganai – 急がない (いそがない) : the nai form of “isogu”, which means ‘not to hurry’ or ‘not to be in a hurry’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “isoganai” consists of the following two parts:

• isoga – 急が (いそが) : one conjugation of “isogu”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “isoganai” is literally the nai form of “isogu” and means ‘not to hurry’ or ‘not to be in a hurry’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not in a hurry” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its plural form, “boku tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese.
• seikou – 成功 (せいこう) : a noun meaning ‘success’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “seikou” to make the object in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “isoganai”. When we want to mean ‘not in a hurry’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Isogou: the volitional form of “isogu”

Below are the definition and meaning of “isogou”.

• isogou – 急ごう (いそごう) : the volitional form of “isogu”, which expresses volition to hurry.

Grammatically, “isogou” consists of the following two parts:

• isogo – 急ご (いそご) : one conjugation of “isogou”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
• u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “isogou” is literally the volitional form of “isogu” and expresses volition to hurry in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “let’s hurry” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• tonikaku – とにかく : an adverb meaning ‘anyway’ or such in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “isogou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s hurry” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.

Isogimasu: the masu form of “isogu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “isogimasu”.

• isogimasu – 急ぎます (いそぎます) : the masu form of “isogu”, which means ‘to hurry’ or ‘to be in a hurry’ politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “isogimasu” consists of the following two parts:

• isogi – 急ぎ (いそぎ) : one conjugation of “isogu”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
• masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “isogimasu” is literally the masu form of “isogu” and means ‘to hurry’ or ‘to be in a hurry’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “in a hurry” politely in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese. In the example, this works together with “tachi” to say “they” in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “isogimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “to be in a hurry” politely in Japanese, this form is a good option.

Isoida: the past tense form of “isogu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “isoida”.

• isoida – 急いだ (いそいだ) : the past tense form of “isogu”, which means ‘hurried’, ‘was in a hurry’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “isoida” consists of the following two parts:

• isoi – 急い (いそい) : one conjugation of “isogu”. This can have a smooth connection with “da”.
• da – だ : the voiced version of “ta” which is an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “isoida” is literally the past tense form of “isogu” and means ‘hurried’, ‘was in a hurry’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “hurried” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kesa – 今朝 (けさ) : a noun meaning ‘this morning’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb at the beginning of the sentence to say “this morning” in Japanese.
• imouto – 妹 (いもうと) : a noun meaning ‘little sister’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’, ‘also’, or ‘as well’. In the example, this works after “imouto” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.

This is a typical usage of “isoida”. When we want to use the past tense form of “isogu”, this form is the best option.

Isoide: the te form of “isogu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “isoide”.

• isoide – 急いで (いそいで) : the te form of “isogu”, which means ‘to hurry’ or ‘to be in a hurry’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “isoide” consists of the following two parts:

• isoi – 急い (いそい) : one conjugation of “isogu”. This can have a smooth connection with “de”.
• de – で : the voiced version of “te” which is a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “isoide” is literally the te form of “isogu”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “isoide” is very useful when we want to use “isogu” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #6: how to say “please hurry up” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’ in Japanese. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “isoide” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “isoide”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “isogu” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Isogeba: the ba form of “isogu”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “isogeba”.

• isogeba – 急げば (いそげば) : the ba form of “isogu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to hurry’ or ‘to be in a hurry’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “isogeba” consists of the following two parts:

• isoge – 急げ (いそげ) : one conjugation of “isogu”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “isogeba” is literally the ba form of “isogu”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “isogeba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to hurry’ or ‘to be in a hurry’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “if hurry” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ni – に : a case particle used to say where someone or something goes. In the example, this is used after “eki” to indicate the object to which the listener should hurry.
• densha – 電車 (でんしゃ) : a noun meaning ‘train’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say in which direction an action goes. In the example, the second “ni” is used after “densha” to indicate the object which the listener can catch.
• noreru – 乗れる (のれる) : a potential verb meaning ‘can ride’ or such in Japanese.
• yo – よ : a sentence-ending particle used to state the fact or idea in a soft way. As the definition suggests, this is used at the end of the second clause to state the speaker’s idea softly.

This is a typical usage of “isogeba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “eki ni isogeba”, which means ‘if you hurry to the station’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to hurry’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “isogu” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• isogu – 急ぐ (いそぐ) : a verb meaning ‘to hurry’ in Japanese. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘to be in a hurry’.
• isoganai – 急がない (いそがない) : the nai form of “isogu”, which means ‘not to hurry’ or ‘not to be in a hurry’ in Japanese.
• isogou – 急ごう (いそごう) : the volitional form of “isogu”, which expresses volition to hurry.
• isogimasu – 急ぎます (いそぎます) : the masu form of “isogu”, which means ‘to hurry’ or ‘to be in a hurry’ politely in Japanese.
• isoida – 急いだ (いそいだ) : the past tense form of “isogu”, which means ‘hurried’, ‘was in a hurry’, or such in Japanese.
• isoide – 急いで (いそいで) : the te form of “isogu”, which means ‘to hurry’ or ‘to be in a hurry’ in Japanese. When we want to use “isogu” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• isogeba – 急げば (いそげば) : the ba form of “isogu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to hurry’ or ‘to be in a hurry’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.