na-adjective, noun
Describes physical quickness and light, effortless movement of a person or animal.
猫はとても敏捷で、高い塀にひらりと飛び乗った。
The cat is very nimble and lightly jumped onto the high fence.
彼は敏捷な動きで相手の攻
He dodged the opponent's attack with agile movements.
na-adjective, noun
Refers to mental quickness: thinking fast, reacting promptly, or being sharp-minded.
彼女は敏捷な頭脳の持ち主で、難しい問題もすぐに解いてしまう。
She has a quick mind and solves even difficult problems right away.
記者の敏捷な質問に、大臣は一瞬言葉に詰まった。
The minister faltered for a moment at the reporter's sharp question.
素早い is an i-adjective that also means quick or swift, but it is more commonly used for physical speed in everyday speech. 敏捷 is more formal and often implies a combination of speed and lightness, and can also refer to mental quickness.
機敏 is very close in meaning, emphasizing alertness and prompt reaction, especially in social or business contexts. 敏捷 is broader, covering both physical nimbleness and mental sharpness.
Composed of 敏 (quick, sharp) and 捷 (nimble, agile). The kanji 捷 is not a Jōyō kanji, so the standard modern spelling is 敏捷, with 捷 replaced by the common character 捷? Actually 捷 is not Jōyō, but the standard form is 敏捷 using 捷? Wait, 敏捷 uses 捷 which is not Jōyō, but it's the established form. The reading びんしょう is the on'yomi of both characters. The word has been used in Japanese for centuries to describe both physical and mental quickness.