加速 (jiā sù) — to speed up, to expedite

Definition

加速 is used for processes or movements getting faster (a train, economy, growth). 加紧 means 'step up' — intensify effort on a task. 提速 is common for transport speed.

verb

to speed upto expedite

Examples

。
Wǒ men dé jiā gè sù cái xíng.
We need to speed up a bit.
加速。
Huǒ chē zhèng zài jiā sù.
The train is speeding up.
加速。
Wǒ men xū yào jiā sù jīng jì fā zhǎn.
We need to speed up economic development.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

加jiāadd

速sùspeed

加 add and 速 speed together mean increase speed.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

力口加

力力lìstrength
口口kǒumouth

加 pairs 力 and 口. In one explanation 力 is strength and 口 is the mouth, meaning exaggeration; in another 力 is plowing effort and 口 is breath or exclamation, meaning extra effort.

Open 加 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辵辵chuò

Sound part声符shēngfú

束

束shù速sù

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

速 pairs 辵, the walking part, with 束, which is used for its sound; the walking part fits the meaning of moving fast.

Open 速 →

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 5 Change & Process 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words