prompt

Compared meaning: something that urges someone to act (noun).

比较义项：促使或提醒某人采取行动的话语／举动（名词）。

• prompt 本词

  A countable noun for one specific cue or reminder that triggers a response, such as a gentle nudge or a line fed to an actor; it names a single instance, not an ongoing process.

  作为可数名词，指促使某人作出反应的某一个具体提示或提醒，例如给演员提词或轻声提醒某人；它指的是单一的一次提示，而不是持续的过程。

  A gentle prompt from her manager reminded her to finish the report on time.

  经理温和的提示提醒她要按时完成报告。

• prompting

  An uncountable, gerund-form noun for the ongoing act of urging or encouraging someone, often through repeated reminders; common in set phrases like 'with prompting' or 'without prompting'.

  作为不可数的动名词形式，指持续督促或鼓励某人的行为，往往通过反复提醒来实现；常见于“with prompting”（经提示／催促后）或“without prompting”（无需催促）这样的固定搭配。

  After some prompting from his mother, the boy finally apologized to his sister.

  在母亲的再三督促下，男孩终于向妹妹道了歉。

Both words are about urging someone to act. Prompt is countable and means one specific cue or reminder that causes a response. Prompting is uncountable and means the ongoing act of urging or encouraging someone, often in phrases like 'with prompting' or 'without prompting'.

这两个词都表示促使某人行动的提示或督促，但语法和用法不同：prompt 是可数名词，指某一次具体的提示或提醒；prompting 是动名词形式的不可数名词，强调持续的督促、催促这一过程，常出现在 with/without prompting 这类固定搭配中。

Compared meaning: happening or moving quickly (adjective).

比较义项：快速的；迅速的（形容词）。

• fast

  The most general word for speed; it can describe people, vehicles, actions or events, and combines freely with almost any noun without restriction.

  表示“快”时最通用的词，可以形容人、车辆、动作或事件，几乎能与任何名词自由搭配，没有特殊限制。

  A fast car overtook us on the highway just before the exit.

  一辆速度很快的汽车在高速公路出口前超过了我们。

• express

  Used almost only right before certain nouns such as train, delivery or service, meaning a special option faster than the usual one; not used to describe people directly.

  几乎只用在列车、快递、服务等特定名词前，表示比普通选项更快的专项服务；一般不直接用来形容人。

  The express train from the airport reaches downtown in just fifteen minutes.

  从机场出发的特快列车只需十五分钟就能到达市中心。

• quick

  Focuses on an action or event taking little time rather than on pure speed; very common in informal, everyday contexts such as replies or short visits.

  强调动作或事件耗时短，而不是单纯速度快；常见于非正式的日常场合，比如回答或短暂的拜访。

  She gave a quick answer before rushing off to catch her bus.

  她迅速回答了一下，就匆忙跑去赶公交车了。

• prompt 本词

  Emphasizes acting without delay or hesitation, especially when responding to something; typical of formal or business contexts, such as replies or payments.

  强调不拖延、不犹豫地行动，尤其是在回应某事时；常见于正式或商务场合，比如回复或付款。

  The company was known for its prompt replies to every customer complaint.

  这家公司以对每一条客户投诉都能及时回复而闻名。

All four words can mean fast. Fast is the most general word, for people, vehicles, or actions. Quick focuses on an action taking little time. Express goes only before words like train or delivery, not people. Prompt means acting without delay, especially in replies.

这几个词都可表示“快”，但侧重不同：fast 最通用，可形容人、车辆或动作；quick 强调动作耗时短，多用于口语；express 只用在列车、快递等特定名词前表示专项快速服务，不能形容人；prompt 强调不拖延、及时回应，语气偏正式。这里不比较 express 表示“表达（感情）”的动词用法，也不比较 fast 表示“斋戒”的动词用法。