迅速 (xùn sù) — rapid; fast; speedy

Definition

迅速 (xùnsù) is the formal/written 'rapid, swift' — stronger than the everyday 快 and more literary than 快速. Use it for processes, responses, or growth rather than casual 'hurry up'.

adjective
rapidfastspeedy

Examples

  • 迅速。
    Tā xùn sù dì pǎo dào le zhōng diǎn.
    He quickly ran to the finish line.
  • 迅速。
    Gōng sī xùn sù zhāo pìn le sān shí míng xīn yuán gōng.
    The company quickly recruited thirty new employees.
  • 迅速。
    Zhè cì xíng dòng xū yào xùn sù de fǎn yìng.
    This operation requires a rapid response.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

迅xùnfast
速sùspeed

迅 and 速 both relate to speed, so together they mean fast.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
卂
卂xùn迅xùn
Same sound today

迅 pairs 辶, written in full as 辵, with 卂, which gives the sound.

Open 迅 →

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
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