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機敏 (きびん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

機き敏びん

き

び

ん

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

quick; alert; sharp; clever

Describes a person, action, or mind that is quick to react, perceptive, and resourceful. Often used for mental agility and promptness in handling situations.

彼かれは機き敏びんな対たい応おうで問もん題だいを解かい決けつした。

He solved the problem with a quick response.

機き敏びんに動うごいてくれて助たすかった。

Your quick action really helped.

Usage patterns

機き敏びんな動うごきquick, agile movements
彼かれは機き敏びんな動うごきで球たまを捕とった。
He caught the ball with quick, agile movements.
機き敏びんな判はん断だんa quick, sharp decision
彼かの女じょの機き敏びんな判はん断だんがチームを救すくった。
Her quick judgment saved the team.
〈事こと〉に機き敏びんに対たい応おうするto respond promptly and cleverly to a situation
彼かれは突とつ然ぜんの質しつ問もんにも機き敏びんに対たい応おうした。
He responded promptly and cleverly even to the sudden question.
機き敏びんに反はん応のうするto react quickly and sharply
猫ねこは物もの音おとに機き敏びんに反はん応のうした。
The cat reacted quickly to the sound.

Kanji

機loom, mechanism, machine
敏cleverness, agile, alert

Related words

素す早ばやいN2
素早い emphasizes physical speed of movement, while 機敏 focuses more on mental alertness and resourceful reaction.
敏びん捷しょう
敏捷 is a more literary synonym stressing physical agility and nimbleness, whereas 機敏 leans toward quick, clever judgment in a situation.
鋭するどいN3
鋭い means sharp in perception or intellect, but 機敏 adds the nuance of prompt, practical action rather than just insight.
敏びん
敏 broadly means quick or sharp, while 機敏 specifically describes quick, alert reactions to a situation.
すばしっこいN1
機敏 is a formal word for alert, prompt reactions, whereas すばしっこい is colloquial and evokes nimble, sometimes sneaky quickness.

Opposites

鈍にぶいN3
鈍い describes someone slow to notice or react, the direct opposite of the sharp, quick-witted 機敏.

Don't confuse with

敏びん感かんN1
敏感 means sensitive to stimuli or feelings, while 機敏 means quick and clever in action, despite sharing the kanji 敏.

Written forms

機き敏びんUsage99%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency in news and common usage.
きびんUsage1%
Kana spelling is acceptable in everyday writing, though the kanji form is more common.

Etymology

Compound of 機 (opportunity, mechanism) and 敏 (agile, quick). The combination conveys the idea of seizing an opportunity with mental sharpness.