限速 (xiàn sù) — to limit speed, to impose a speed limit | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A verb (or verbal noun) meaning 'to limit speed' / 'speed limit'. Common as a noun phrase in traffic contexts: 限速标志 ('speed limit sign'), 限速六十 ('60 km/h limit').

verb

to limit speedto impose a speed limit

Examples

限速。
Zhè duàn lù xiàn sù měi xiǎo shí liù shí gōng lǐ.
This section of road has a speed limit of 60 km/h.
限速，。
Jǐng chá zài zhè lǐ xiàn sù le sù, dà jiā kāi màn diǎn.
The police have set a speed limit here, everyone drive slowly.
，。
Qián miàn yǒu xiàn sù biāo zhì, qǐng zhù yì.
There's a speed limit sign ahead, please pay attention.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

限 means limit, and 速 names speed; together it means to limit the speed.

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

⻖Written in full as阜fùmound

Sound part声符shēngfú

艮

艮gèn限xiàn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

限 pairs ⻖ (mound, written 阜) with 艮 as a sound part; the mound side gives the sense of a boundary or limit.

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

Roads & Traffic

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