Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
敏捷mǐnjié(min3jie2)
敏捷 (mǐn jié) refers to being quick, nimble, or agile both physically and mentally. It is commonly used to describe someone who can move swiftly or think quickly, making it applicable in contexts such as sports, decision-making, and problem-solving. The word conveys a sense of both physical dexterity and mental sharpness.
Frequency#10564DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, agility is often associated with martial arts, where quick reflexes and sharp thinking are essential for success. The value placed on being 敏捷 reflects a broader appreciation for skillfulness and adaptability in various life situations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a nimble cat (敏) that swiftly leaps over obstacles (捷). The cat's movements are so quick and graceful that it seems to dance through the air. The '敏' part looks like a cat's whiskers, emphasizing agility, while '捷' can remind you of a racing car speeding past with quickness.
Meanings of 敏捷
mǐnjié(min3jie2)
1nimble
2quick
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 敏捷
敏捷Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#10564Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 敏捷
Podcast: 敏捷
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 敏捷
Quick Contrast
灵活 (línghuó) vs 敏捷 (mǐnjié): Choose 敏捷 when emphasizing quickness and agility, especially in movement or thought, while 灵活 focuses more on flexibility and adaptability.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a nimble cat (敏) that swiftly leaps over obstacles (捷). The cat's movements are so quick and graceful that it seems to dance through the air. The '敏' part looks like a cat's whiskers, emphasizing agility, while '捷' can remind you of a racing car speeding past with quickness.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 敏捷 with similar-sounding words that may imply slowness or clumsiness. This term is informal and can be used in both casual and formal settings. Common collocations include '思维敏捷' (quick-witted) and '动作敏捷' (agile movements).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 敏捷 connects with other advanced vocabulary that describes attributes and qualities, such as 聪明 (clever) or 灵活 (flexible). Focus on using it in descriptive sentences to practice your ability to articulate nuanced qualities.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, agility is often associated with martial arts, where quick reflexes and sharp thinking are essential for success. The value placed on being 敏捷 reflects a broader appreciation for skillfulness and adaptability in various life situations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 敏捷 to describe things that are slow or cumbersome, such as '他很敏捷，但走得很慢' (He is nimble, but walks very slowly). The correct form would be to use the term in contexts highlighting speed or agility.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 敏捷
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 敏捷 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 敏捷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 敏捷
敏捷 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
肖恩是个思维____、行事随兴的人。
Sean's a fast thinker, and he acts on impulse.
Example Sentences for 敏捷 (7)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
肖恩是个思维敏捷、行事随兴的人。
xiāo ēn shì gè sī wéi mǐn jié、 、 háng shì suí xīng de。
Sean's a fast thinker, and he acts on impulse.
2
乔治叔叔迅速爬下梯子，敏捷地上了船。
qiáo zhì shū shū xùn sù pá xià tī zǐ， ， mǐn jié dì shàng le。
Uncle George quickly descended the ladder and nimbly stepped aboard.
3
他虽然很老, 动作仍很敏捷.
tā suī rán hěn lǎo, , dòng zuò réng hěn mǐn.
Although the man was very old, he still moved with alacrity.
4
巴纳比可能15岁了，但他动作敏捷，适合打羽毛球。
bā nà bǐ kě néng15 15 suì， le ， dàn tā dòng zuò， mǐn jié ， shì hé dǎ。
Barnaby may be 15, but he's nippy and suited to badminton.
5
他敏捷,灵活,输了不在乎.
tā mǐn jié, , líng, huó , shū le bù.
He was quick and agile and he didn't mind losing.
6
他敏捷地从边上退了回来.
tā mǐn jié dì cóng biān shàng tuì le huí lái.
He stepped back smartly from the edge.
7
他敏捷的身手让她惊奇地直眨眼睛。
tā mǐn jié de shēn shǒu ràng tā jīng qí dì zhí zhǎ yǎn jīng。
She blinked in surprise at his agility.
Cultural Notes for 敏捷
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, agility is often associated with martial arts, where quick reflexes and sharp thinking are essential for success. The value placed on being 敏捷 reflects a broader appreciation for skillfulness and adaptability in various life situations.
Frequently Asked Questions about 敏捷
Yes, 敏捷 can describe someone who is quick-witted or shrewd, not just in physical agility but also in mental processes.
Generally, yes, 敏捷 has a positive connotation, but context matters; it could imply a cunning or shrewd nature if used with negative nuance.
It is pronounced as mǐn jié, with the first syllable having a third tone and the second syllable having a second tone.
