Japanese Conversation · Level 92
60 words
Japanese word
素早い
Pronunciation
Romajisubayai
Meaning
- i-adjectivequick
Example
店員は素早い動きで料理を作ります。ten in wa su baya i ugo ki de ryō ri o tsuku ri ma su
The worker prepares food with quick movements.
More examples
その猫は素早いです。so no neko wa su baya i de su
That cat is quick.
彼女は忘れ物に気づき、素早く家へ戻りました。kano jo wa wasu re mono ni ki zu ki su baya ku ie e modo ri ma shi ta
She noticed that she had forgotten something and quickly returned home.
Core concept
It conveys a quick response or movement that reaches its result without wasted time.
Common phrases
素早い対応su baya i tai ō
quick response
素早い反応su baya i han nō
quick reaction
素早い動きsu baya i ugo ki
quick movement
Similar words
早いhayai: Happening, starting, or being completed sooner than expected.
速いhayai: Covering distance or performing an action in a short time.
手早いtebayai: Completed quickly and efficiently.
Definition in Japanese
動作や判断などが速く、時間をかけずに行われるさま。dō sa ya han dan na do ga haya ku ji kan o ka ke zu ni okona wa re ru sa ma
Word origin
素早い (subayai) is formed from 素 (su, an intensifying prefix) and 早い (hayai, "fast"), and the compound describes action completed without delay.
Usage tips
- A natural contrast is between 素早い (subayai) action and 早い (hayai, "early or fast") arrival: the first highlights promptness, while the second can mean that something happens sooner.