quick, clever

敏 is composed of 每 (each) and 攵 (knock). Since 每 originally referred to a woman with strong reproductive vitality and 攵 is a pictogram of a hand holding a stick or tool to spur action, 敏 visually depicts urging or prompting a woman to bear offspring frequently. Because a woman's reproductive window is limited, achieving frequent births required acting without delay—giving rise to the character's primary sense of speed, quickness, and agility. By extension, it came to describe a sharp mind, keen perception, and mental alertness.