Meanings of 快
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About 快
Podcast: 快
Podcast: 快
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AI Study Notes for 快
快 (kuài) vs 迅速 (xùn sù) — use 快 for a more casual or everyday context, while 迅速 conveys a more formal or urgent sense of speed.
Imagine a rabbit (the symbol of speed) hopping quickly across a field. The character 快 resembles a person running (the left part) with urgency, while the right part suggests a sense of sharpness or clarity in thought, embodying both speed and cleverness.
Be careful not to confuse 快 with 慢 (màn), which means 'slow.' The tone is crucial; ensure you pronounce it as kuài (4th tone) to convey 'quick' rather than using a different tone that may change its meaning. Common collocations include '快点' (kuài diǎn - hurry up) and '快餐' (kuài cān - fast food).
As an HSK Level 2 word, 快 connects well with other simple action verbs and adjectives. Focus on using it in sentences that describe actions or feelings, and practice with common phrases to reinforce its meaning in context.
In Chinese culture, speed is often associated with efficiency and success, especially in business contexts. The importance of being '快' reflects a broader societal value placed on promptness and the ability to seize opportunities quickly.
Learners often confuse 快 with the similar-sounding word '块' (kuài), which means 'piece' or 'block.' For example, saying '我想要一块蛋糕' (Wǒ xiǎng yào yī kuài dàngāo - I want a quick cake) instead of '我想要快点做' (Wǒ xiǎng yào kuài diǎn zuò - I want to do it quickly) can lead to confusion.
Pronunciation of 快
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Etymology of 快
Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 夬 represents the sound.
A decisive 夬 will 忄; 夬 also provides the pronunciation
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 快?
Decomposition of 快
Identify the Components
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Write 快
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Practice writing 快 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 快
快 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 16 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
____走！
Hurry up and go!
Example Sentences for 快 (10)
Cultural Notes for 快
In Chinese culture, speed is often associated with efficiency and success, especially in business contexts. The importance of being '快' reflects a broader societal value placed on promptness and the ability to seize opportunities quickly.
Word Family of 快
Compound Meaning
What does 筷 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 快
You can say '我快要去上班了' (Wǒ kuài yào qù shàngbān le) meaning 'I am about to go to work.'