素早い (すばやい, subayai) Japanese meaning: quick | Kotomora

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

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.

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

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.

Meanings

Usage patterns