敏捷 (mǐn jié) — (of movement) nimble, agile; (of mind) quick, sharp

Definition

敏捷 stresses physical nimbleness (movements, reactions). 灵活 is broader, also covering flexible thinking and plans; 灵敏 is for sharp senses or reactions, not movement.

adjective
(of movement) nimbleagile(of mind) quicksharp

Examples

  • 敏捷，。
    Tā fǎn yìng hěn mǐn jié, zǒng néng jí shí huí dá wèn tí.
    He reacts very quickly and always answers questions in time.
  • 敏捷，。
    Zhè zhī māo de dòng zuò fēi cháng mǐn jié, yí xià zi jiù zhuā zhù le lǎo shǔ.
    This cat's movements are very nimble; it caught the mouse in an instant.
  • 敏捷，。
    Tā sī wéi mǐn jié, zài biàn lùn zhōng biǎo xiàn chū sè.
    She has a quick mind and performed excellently in the debate.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

敏mǐnquick
捷jiéagile

敏 and 捷 both mean quick or agile, together describing nimble movement or sharp mind.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pūhand; action
Sound part声符shēngfú
每
每měi敏mǐn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

敏 pairs 每, which gives the sound, with 攴, a hand/action part.

Open 敏 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
疌
疌jié捷jié
Same sound today

捷 pairs 手 (hand) with 疌, which gives its sound.

Open 捷 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Personality & Traits

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