話が早い · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 話が早い | 話が早くない |
| Polite | 話が早いです | 話が早くないですalso 話が早くありません |
| Past polite | 話が早かったです | 話が早くなかったですalso 話が早くありませんでした |
| Past | 話が早かった | 話が早くなかった |
| Te-form | 話が早くて | 話が早くなくて |
| Adverbial | 話が早く | |
| Conditional | 話が早ければ | 話が早くなければ |
| Tara conditional | 話が早かったら | 話が早くなかったら |
quick to understand; getting straight to the point; no need to explain further
Used when someone grasps the situation immediately or when a matter is resolved quickly without lengthy discussion. Often said with appreciation or relief.
He's quick on the uptake, so explaining things is easy.
That was settled quickly—thanks, that helped a lot.
A set phrase combining 話 (talk, story) and 早い (fast, early), literally 'the talk is fast'. The meaning is idiomatic, referring to quick understanding or swift resolution.