素早い・素速い|すばやいsubayai[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
素早いUse 素早い as the default spelling, especially as a beginner; it describes quick, swift, nimble, or agile action or movement.
素速い素速い is a rarely used variant of 素早い, so beginners will usually want to use 素早い instead.
Definitions
- i-adjectivequick; swift; nimble; agile
- i-adjectivequick (understanding, judgement, etc.); alert; prompt
Conjugation
| Plain form | 素早い（すばやい） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 素早いです（すばやいです） |
| Negative (kunai) | 素早くない（すばやくない） |
| polite (ku arimasen) | 素早くありません（すばやくありません） |
| Past (katta) | 素早かった（すばやかった） |
| Past negative (kunakatta) | 素早くなかった（すばやくなかった） |
| Te form (kute) | 素早くて（すばやくて） |
| Adverbial (ku) | 素早く（すばやく） |
| Conditional (kereba) | 素早ければ（すばやければ） |
| kattara | 素早かったら（すばやかったら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym機敏きびんWrittenWritten/formal. Describes mental quickness and ready adaptability, as in 「機敏な対応」; 「素早い」 stresses speed of movement.
- Synonym手早いてばやいNeutralRefers to working briskly and efficiently at tasks, as in 「手早く片付ける」 or 「手早く説明する」; 「素早い」 also covers quick reactions.
- Synonym速やかすみやかWrittenWritten/formal, common in official documents. Means doing something promptly, without delay, as in 「速やかに退出」; 「素早い」 stresses speed of movement.
- Synonym迅速じんそくWrittenWritten/formal adjectival noun for prompt, timely handling of matters, as in 「迅速な対応」; 「素早い」 focuses on the movement itself.
- Synonym敏速びんそくWrittenWritten and rare. Denotes agility and swiftness; in everyday speech 「素早い」 is what people say.
- SynonymスピーディーNeutralLoanword for things moving ahead quickly and efficiently, as in 「スピーディーな対応」; 「素早い」 focuses on the movement itself.
- Synonym早いはやいNeutralThe most general word for fast or early; 「素早い」 specifically stresses agility of reaction and movement.
- SynonymすばしっこいCasualColloquial. Describes nimble, agile movement and fits both people and animals, as in 「すばしっこい猫」; 「素早い」 is more neutral in tone.
- Synonym手ばしこいてばしこいCasualColloquial and rare. Means quick, deft hands and movements; in everyday speech 「手早い」 is the usual choice.
- Synonym敏捷びんしょうWrittenWritten/formal. Describes nimbleness of bodily movement, as in 「敏捷な動き」; 「素早い」 is the more colloquial choice.
- Antonym遅いおそいNeutralThe antonym on the fast–slow axis: it means slow, the direct opposite of 「素早い」.
- Antonym鈍いにぶいNeutralDuplicate of the previous entry: the same antonym 「遅い」, opposite to 「素早い」 on the fast–slow axis, meaning slow.
「素早い」 is the word for quick, agile movement and reactions. Use 「手早い」 for brisk, efficient work; 「すばしっこい」 for nimble agility in people or animals; 「速やかに」 for prompt action in official writing; 「迅速」 for prompt, timely handling. The antonym is 「遅い」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
