敏 mǐn fast
fast; quick; clever
How it came to be
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
A hand gives the meaning and the other part gives the sound.
用法
- 敏感 mǐngǎn "sensitive" covers both physical sensitivity and touchy subjects: 敏感话题 "a sensitive topic."
- 过敏 guòmǐn "to have an allergic reaction" is essential medical vocabulary: 我对花生过敏 (wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn) "I'm allergic to peanuts."
- Distinguish 敏捷 mǐnjié "agile, nimble" (physical quickness) from 敏锐 mǐnruì "sharp, perceptive" (mental or sensory acuity).