Translation guide
Describes someone who understands or learns things quickly, often in conversation or new situations.
To say someone grasps new ideas, jokes, or instructions without needing repeated explanation.
Literally 'swallowing is fast', this is the most common and natural way to say someone is quick on the uptake. Used for learning, understanding instructions, or catching on to things.
To describe someone who gets jokes, sarcasm, or subtle hints immediately.
Means 'jokes get through', i.e., the person understands humor. Often used in negative form for someone who doesn't get jokes.
飲み込みが早い is more colloquial and implies a natural ability to grasp things intuitively. 理解が早い is more straightforward and can be used in formal contexts. Both are common, but 飲み込みが早い is the go-to phrase for 'quick on the uptake'.
Do not translate 'quick on the uptake' word-for-word. Phrases like 早く取り込む or 取り込みが早い are not used in this sense and will cause confusion.
He's quick on the uptake, so he learned the job right away.
More direct, meaning 'understanding is fast'. Slightly more formal or written than 飲み込みが早い.
She's quick on the uptake, so one explanation is enough.
Means perceptive or quick to sense what's going on without being told. Often used for picking up on unspoken feelings or situations.
He's quick on the uptake, so he's good at reading the room.
Literally 'head rotation is fast', meaning quick-witted or sharp. Emphasizes mental speed in thinking or responding.
That kid is quick on the uptake and answers any question immediately.
Specifically about learning or memorizing things quickly. More about retention than immediate understanding.
He's quick on the uptake, so he masters new software quickly.
He's quick on the uptake with jokes, so he's fun to talk to.
Used when someone catches on quickly in conversation, often meaning 'you're quick to understand what I'm getting at'.
You're quick on the uptake, that helps a lot.
Means having good intuition or being quick to guess correctly. Often used for picking up on hints or unspoken things.
She's quick on the uptake, so she immediately understood what I wanted to say.
She's really quick on the uptake, so she'll be fine in any job.
You need to be quick on the uptake to work here.