Translation guide
The English word "nimble" covers physical agility, mental quickness, and dexterity. Japanese expresses these with different words depending on the context.
Describing quick, light, and graceful physical movement.
Describes a person who moves lightly and easily, often implying a lack of burden or quick reflexes.
He nimbly ran up the stairs.
Refers to quick, agile movements; often used for animals or in sports contexts.
Cats are very nimble.
Colloquial adjective for someone who is quick and nimble, often with a nuance of being hard to catch.
That kid is so nimble I can't catch him.
Light and brisk movement, often used for walking or dancing.
She danced with nimble steps.
Describing a mind that is sharp, quick-witted, and able to think fast.
Literally "head rotation is fast"; idiomatic for being quick-witted or mentally nimble.
He's mentally nimble, so he can answer any question right away.
Means to be resourceful and quick-thinking, especially in tricky situations.
Describes a sharp, clear mind; often used for someone who is on top of their game mentally.
Describing skillful, quick, and precise use of the hands.
English sometimes says 'nimble car' for agile handling, but Japanese does not use the above words for vehicles. Instead, use 小回りが利く (こまわりがきく) for a car with a tight turning radius, or 機動性が高い (きどうせいがたかい) for high maneuverability.
A nimble-minded person could solve this problem quickly.
My mind is nimble today, so work is going smoothly.
A pianist must have nimble fingers.