ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY

fast / quick / soon

kuài
7 strokes · 忄 (heart radical) + 夬 · HSK 1

Where 快 comes from

快 = 忄 (heart) + 夬 (decisive). Its first meaning was a 'happy / pleased' heart — a heart that feels good. From the lightness of a happy heart came 'quick / fast'. So speed and joy share one character.

快 in Chinese culture

快 means fast AND happy, both rooted in a light heart: 快乐 (happy, 'fast-joy') — as in 生日快乐 (happy birthday) and 新年快乐 (happy new year); and 很快 (very fast), 快来 (come quick!). 快 also marks 'soon/about to': 快到了 (almost there). When you wish someone 快乐, you're wishing their heart to feel light and quick.

Example

很快 hěn kuài — very fast / quickly

你快来!
Nǐ kuài lái!
Come quick!

How to remember it

A light, decisive heart (忄) — QUICK, and happy.

快乐 ('happy') literally means 'fast-joy' — a light, quick heart. That's why every Chinese well-wish ends in 快乐: 生日快乐, 新年快乐.

Same sound, different tones

Words unlocked by 快

很快 hěn kuài
very fast
快来 kuài lái
come quick
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