机灵 (jī ling) — clever, smart, quick-witted

Definition

Colloquial adjective for 'quick-witted and alert' — emphasizes sharp reactions, like guessing fast or learning tricks. 机智 is more about resourceful thinking under pressure; 乖巧 adds a 'well-behaved, cute' tone for kids or pets.

adjective
cleversmartquick-witted

Examples

  • 机灵
    Zhè ge xiǎo péng yǒu zhēn jī ling, yí xià zi jiù cāi dào le dá àn.
    This child is really clever — he guessed the answer right away.
  • 机灵
    jī ling De xiǎo gǒu néng xué huì hěn duō xiǎo bǎ xì.
    A quick-witted little dog can learn many small tricks.
  • 机灵
    Tā zuò shì hěn jī ling, zǒng yòng zuì kuài de bàn fǎ.
    She is very smart about getting things done and always uses the quickest method.

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