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If people are very fast, or do things quickly, sometimes we will refer to such a person as Speedy Gonzales in English?

Are there similar references for people in Chinese?

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Speedy Gonzales as a cartoon character is translated to 飞毛腿冈萨雷斯. Not many Chinese know this cartoon character, but 飞毛腿 as a noun can be used to describe people running very fast. It literally means flying hairy legs.

Less frequently seen but still recognizable, you can use 神行太保. It's a nickname for a 水浒 character who is known to be able to run very fast. It literally means miraculously walking prime minister. In fact his job is the messenger.

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  • If I then, likewise, called someone 戴宗 would they get it?
    – Mou某
    Commented Nov 5, 2014 at 8:29
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    @user3306356 The nickname is better known. Even for people who haven't read 水浒, they may have heard of 神行太保 somewhere. I can't say the same for 戴宗. Commented Nov 5, 2014 at 8:32
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In fact, if a man does something very fast (without considering the things are done badly or not), you can say him/her is a 急先锋.

However, if a man is entitled as this phrase, this means he/she does things carelessly (frequently).

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  • How about just fast not careless?
    – Mou某
    Commented Nov 5, 2014 at 8:30
  • @user3306356 That would be 雷厉风行, speedy and decisive execution.
    – NS.X.
    Commented Nov 7, 2014 at 9:46

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