素す早ばやい

す

ば

や

い

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

素早い · i-adjective

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	素す早ばやい	素す早ばやくない
Polite	素す早ばやいです	素す早ばやくないですalso 素す早ばやくありません
Past polite	素す早ばやかったです	素す早ばやくなかったですalso 素す早ばやくありませんでした
Past	素す早ばやかった	素す早ばやくなかった
Te-form	素す早ばやくて	素す早ばやくなくて
Adverbial	素す早ばやく
Conditional	素す早ばやければ	素す早ばやくなければ
Tara conditional	素す早ばやかったら	素す早ばやくなかったら

Meanings

i-adjective

quick; swift; nimble; agile

Describes fast physical movement or action; often used for reflexes, hands, feet, or overall agility.

彼かれは素す早ばやく走はしってバスに間まに合あった。
He ran quickly and caught the bus.
猫ねこは素す早ばやい動うごきでネズミを捕つかまえた。
The cat caught the mouse with a swift movement.

i-adjective

quick-witted; alert; prompt

Refers to mental quickness: fast understanding, sharp judgement, or immediate reaction in non-physical contexts.

彼かの女じょは素す早ばやく状じょう況きょうを理り解かいした。
She quickly grasped the situation.
素す早ばやい判はん断だんが求もとめられる仕し事ごとだ。
It's a job that requires prompt judgement.

See all 175 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

素す早ばやい動うごきquick, agile movement
素す早ばやい動うごきで敵てきをかわした。
He dodged the enemy with quick movements.
〈事こと〉に素す早ばやく反はん応のうするto react swiftly to something
猫ねこは物もの音おとに素す早ばやく反はん応のうした。
The cat reacted swiftly to the noise.
素す早ばやい判はん断だんa quick decision or judgment
彼かれは素す早ばやい判はん断だんでチームを救すくった。
He saved the team with a quick decision.
〈事こと〉に素す早ばやく対たい応おうするto respond promptly to something
彼かの女じょは苦く情じょうに素す早ばやく対たい応おうした。
She responded promptly to the complaint.

Kanji

素elementary, principle, naked
早early, fast
速quick, fast

Related words· 9

早はやいN5sense 1
速い is the general word for physical speed, while 素早い adds a nuance of agility and sharpness in quick action or movement.
迅じん速そくN1
迅速 is a formal word for promptness often used in business or official contexts, while 素早い is the everyday word for physical or mental quickness.
機き敏びんN1sense 2
機敏 describes sharp, alert responsiveness in a slightly more formal or literary tone, while 素早い is the common everyday word for quick action.
敏びん捷しょう sense 1
敏捷 is a formal, often written word for physical agility (e.g. in sports), while 素早い is the everyday equivalent used in speech.

Show 5 more

すばしっこいN1
素早い focuses purely on speed, while すばしっこい adds a nuance of agility and slightly crafty, restless movement.
手て早ばやい
素早い emphasizes swiftness of movement or reaction, while 手早い focuses on manual dexterity and efficiency in performing tasks.
手てっ取とり早ばやいN1
素早い describes physical or reactive quickness (e.g. movement), while 手っ取り早い describes a method or approach chosen for its speed and ease.
スピーディー
素早い describes quick, agile physical movement or reaction, while スピーディー is broader and often used for business processes or services.
敏びん速そく
素早い is a common everyday adjective for being quick, while 敏速 is a more formal, written kanji compound.

Opposites

遅おそいN5
遅い means slow, the direct opposite of 素早い's meaning of being quick or nimble.

Don't confuse with

素す晴ばらしいN4
素早い sounds similar to 素晴らしい but means 'quick, prompt', with no connection to excellence or admiration.
いち早はやく
素早い is an adjective describing quick, agile movement itself, while いち早く is an adverb emphasizing being early or ahead of others in timing.

Built from

素す+早はやい

Written forms

素す早ばやいUsage56%
Standard kanji spelling; high priority.
すばやいUsage41%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the kanji is not needed.
素す速ばやいUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
す早ばやいUsage1%
search-only kanji form
素すばやいUsage<1%
search-only kanji form

Etymology

Formed from the intensifying prefix す and 早い, “quick,” with voicing of the second element producing すばやい. 素 is the conventional spelling of the prefix.