迅

Phono-semantic compound consisting of:

辶 (책받침 / 쉬엄쉬엄 갈 착) — semantic component, indicating motion, movement, or travel.

卂 (빨리 날 신) — phonetic and semantic component, depicting a swift flying motion.

The ancient form of 卂 shows a feathered object or bird darting through the air.

Combining 辶 (“to go”) with 卂 (“to fly swiftly”) gives the sense of “moving or going with great speed.”

Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字) defines:

「迅，疾也。从辵卂聲。」

“迅 means ‘rapid.’ Formed from 辵 (‘to walk’) and phonetic 卂.”

Bronze inscriptions (金文 jinwen) already depict 迅 with a curved motion symbol (辵) and a feathered form, emphasizing velocity and continuity of motion.

In Korean orthography, the final stroke of the 十 component in 卂 is drawn upright, though other regions write it slightly curved.

迅速 (신속) — rapid, prompt, swift

迅猛 (신맹) — fierce, fast-moving, vigorous

迅捷 (신첩) — nimble, agile

迅風 (신풍) — swift wind, gale

迅流 (신류) — rapid current

迅移 (신이) — to shift or move quickly

迅電 (신전) — lightning, rapid as electricity

迅發 (신발) — sudden outbreak or rapid development

In classical Chinese literature, 迅 often denotes not only physical swiftness but also decisiveness of character or inevitability of change.

From Book of Odes (《詩經》·小雅):

「如彼飛蓬，亦迅且靈。」

“Like that drifting aster, swift and spirited.”

Here, 迅 evokes the light and rapid motion of wind-borne things, a symbol of vitality and impermanence.

In Zuo Zhuan (《左傳》·襄公二十五年):

「兵貴神速，遲則生變。」

“In warfare, speed is of the essence; delay brings calamity.”

This passage encapsulates the classical virtue of 迅—decisive, timely action aligned with circumstances.

Daoist writings further use 迅 to describe the natural, effortless flow of qi (氣) through the cosmos:

「道行若迅，無待而成。」 (Huainanzi, 《淮南子》)

“The Way moves swiftly, accomplishing without waiting.”

In a moral or spiritual sense, 迅 represents not restlessness but harmony with the rhythm of Heaven—movement without hesitation, decisiveness without violence.