素す早ばやい

す

ば

や

い

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

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.

2

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.

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

Kanji

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

Similar words

速はやい
速い is a general word for 'fast' in speed; 素早い emphasizes agility and quickness of action or mind, often with a nuance of sharpness.
迅じん速そく
迅速 is more formal and often used in official or business contexts for promptness; 素早い is more everyday and can describe physical nimbleness.

Etymology

Compound of 素 (plain, unadorned) and 早い (fast, early). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination conveys a sense of immediate, unhesitating quickness.