Quick vs. Fast

[giang]

Hi, another question that I think many Vietnamese need to know when we speak English. the difference between fast and quick. These words are both translated as "nhanh' in Vietnamese. Do we say walk fast or walk quickly or walk quick, eat fast or eat quick or quickly ?

Thanks in advance

[nktvn]

"Nhanh" in Vietnamsese has two layers of meaning:

1. at high speed
2. taking little time

Though (1) may imply (2) and vice versa, FAST is usually used for (1) while QUICK is for the other. So we say "a quick question (= it won't take lots of time to ask and answer)" but not "a FAST question" (unless we're referring to the talking speed of the asker, I think)

So "làm nhanh lên" is usually understood as "do it quickly" rather than "do it FAST". But in some cases, I can't tell the difference in meaning. I have to remember how each word collocates with other words.

[Khatores]

"Nhanh" in Vietnamsese has two layers of meaning:

1. at high speed
2. taking little time

Though (1) may imply (2) and vice versa, FAST is usually used for (1) while QUICK is for the other. So we say "a quick question (= it won't take lots of time to ask and answer)" but not "a FAST question" (unless we're referring to the talking speed of the asker, I think)

So "làm nhanh lên" is usually understood as "do it quickly" rather than "do it FAST". But in some cases, I can't tell the difference in meaning. I have to remember how each word collocates with other words.

Tha's pretty much it. Although, sometimes the meaning is hard to determine unless you hear it. So, "quick" and "fast" often seem as if they're being used for the same meaning.

A fast car gets you to a destination quickly. When driving too fast, you quickly slow down when you see the police, but you quickly get stopped anyway. If you're quick in the head, you might be able to get out of a ticket...but they'll quickly write a ticket for a fast talker. :)

[camly]

There are some Vietnamese words with "nhanh"

nhanh nhẹn
nhanh chóng
nhanh nhạy
nhanh nhảu
nhanh nhanh
chóng
mau

How can we translate these using fast and quick ?

[hbae787]

nhanh nhẹn=nimble, quick, agile, light-footed
nhanh chóng=fast, speedy, expeditious
nhanh nhạy=responsive, sharp, alert, vigilant
nhanh nhảu=quick, eager to help, helpful
nhanh nhanh=quickly, faster
chóng=fast, quick (depending on context)
mau=fast, quick (depending on context)

[ray7ray]

Hello Cam Ly and hbae787,

Thank you for the input. After you have given us the definitons for Vientmese ( and English for Vietnamese readers ) it would ALWAYS be easier to understand if someone can put each word/words in a sentence.

Thank you both!

ray7ray

[giang]

Hello Cam Ly and hbae787,

Thank you for the input. After you have given us the definitons for Vientmese ( and English for Vietnamese readers ) it would ALWAYS be easier to understand if someone can put each word/words in a sentence.

Thank you both!

ray7ray

I can do it now:

Anh ấy làm việc rất nhanh nhẹn.
Họ đã quyết định (decide) rất nhanh chóng.
Người Việt rất nhanh nhạy với giá vàng (gold)
Tôi nhờ (ask for help) và cô ấy nhanh nhảu giúp tôi.
Anh ơi, nhanh nhanh lên hộ tý. (=hurry up)
Những tên cướp (gansters) chạy (run) rất mau (=nhanh) - Mau is mor used in the South of Vietnam.