How to Write 迅 (xùn) — Meaning “fast; swift”

Imagine a bird (卂) that is walking (辶) very quickly — the bird is in a hurry! This links the shape of 卂 (like a flying bird) with the radical for movement to mean "swift."

Write the 卂 part first with three strokes: a curved hook stroke (横折弯钩), then a horizontal line (横), and finally a vertical line (竖). Then add the 辶 radical with three strokes: dot, zigzag, and a long sweeping downward stroke — make sure the 辶 wraps around the 卂 neatly.

迅 (xùn) means "fast" and uses 卂 (a bird shape), while 巡 (xún) means "to patrol" and uses 巛 (like zigzag lines). 边 (biān) means "side" or "edge" and uses 力 (strength) inside. Visually, 迅 has a hook and vertical line inside, whereas 巡 has three short lines and 边 has a simple 力.

迅 appears in formal or written vocabulary like 迅速 (rapid) and 迅猛 (swift and fierce), often in news, reports, or descriptions of fast actions. A common idiom is 迅雷不及掩耳, meaning "as sudden as a thunderclap that leaves no time to cover ears," used to describe something extremely fast.

Common words containing 迅 include: 迅速 (xùn sù) — rapid; speedy; 迅猛 (xùn měng) — swift and violent; rapid; 迅即 (xùn jí) — immediately; promptly.