快递 (kuài dì) — express delivery; courier service

Definition

noun

express deliverycourier service

Measure word · 个

快递。
Wǒ shōu dào le yí gè kuài dì.
I received an express delivery.
快递。
Zhè ge kuài dì shì cóng shàng hǎi jì guò lái de.
This express delivery was sent from Shanghai.
快递。
Qǐng bāng wǒ dǎ kāi zhè ge kuài dì.
Please help me open this express delivery.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

递dìdeliver

快 adds speed, and 递 is delivery, so the word means express delivery.

Characters in this word

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

忄夬快

Meaning part形符xíngfú

忄Written in full as心xīn

Sound part声符shēngfú

夬

夬guài快kuài

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

快 pairs the left part 忄 (full form 心, the heart) with the right part 夬, which gives the sound.

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

辶弟递

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuò

Sound part声符shēngfú

弟

Same sound today

递 is built from 辶 (written in full as 辵) and 弟; 辶 is the meaning part and 弟 is the sound part.

Appears in