Meaning
快 is one of the most fundamental words in Mandarin, expressing speed, quickness, or imminence. As an adjective it describes something being fast or sharp, and as an adverb it means quickly or soon. It's also used to indicate something is about to happen.
Usage
快 is extremely common in everyday speech. When placed before a verb, it means to do something quickly or that something will happen soon. Native speakers frequently use 快点 (kuài diǎn) as a casual imperative meaning hurry up. It can also mean almost in contexts like 快...了 (kuài...le) to show something is about to happen.
Examples
- 01你走得太快了，我跟不上。, .You're walking too fast, I can't keep up.
- 02快要下雨了，我们快回家吧。, .It's about to rain, let's hurry home.
Common collocations
- 快点hurry up, quickly
- 快要...了...about to...
- 快乐happy, joyful
- 快餐fast food
Antonyms
Origin
The character 快 combines the heart radical 忄(心) on the left with 夬 (guài), which originally meant to divide or break through. The heart radical suggests emotional satisfaction or speed, creating the meaning of being quick or pleased.