时速 (shí sù) — speed (in kilometers per hour) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

时速 is a technical noun meaning 'speed per hour,' the figure shown on a speedometer. Unlike 速度 (general 'speed/rate'), 时速 specifically pairs speed with a one-hour unit (e.g., km/h).

noun

speed (in kilometers per hour)

Easily confused

食宿shí sùsound-alikeboard and lodging; room and board

Examples

时速。
Zhè liàng huǒ chē de shí sù shì měi xiǎo shí sān bǎi gōng lǐ.
This train's speed is 300 kilometers per hour.
，时速。
Zài chéng shì lǐ kāi chē, shí sù bù néng tài kuài.
When driving in the city, the speed cannot be too fast.
时速，。
Sī jī yào zhù yì shí sù, bǎo zhèng ān quán.
Drivers must pay attention to speed to ensure safety.

Origin

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.

时 gives hour and 速 gives speed, together meaning speed measured per hour.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 時; 时 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

日日rìsun; day

Sound part声符shēngfú

之

之zhī時shí

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

The traditional form 時 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 之 as the part that gives the sound; the simplified 时 is not the form described.

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

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 Units & Measurement

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