高速公路

• Pinyin: gāo sù gōng lù
• Hanzi breakdown: 高 = tall; 速 = speed; 公 = public; 路 = road — a high-speed public road

Meaning

Highway; motorway; expressway. A major road designed for fast long-distance travel.

The standard term for highways or expressways in China. Often shortened to 高速 in casual speech. China has one of the world's largest highway networks. Common topics include tolls, traffic, and road trips.

Examples

1. 节假日高速公路上车特别多。 There are especially many cars on the highway during holidays.
2. 从这里到上海走高速公路大概四个小时。 From here to Shanghai by highway takes about four hours.
3. 新建的高速公路让两个城市之间的交通方便了很多。 The newly built highway has made transportation between the two cities much more convenient.

Usage Guide

Context: transport, travel, everyday

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 这条高速公路上限速一百二十公里。(The speed limit on this highway is 120 kilometres per hour.)
• 假期高速公路免费通行。(The highway is free to use during holidays.)

Don't Say

• 我在高速公路上散步 (Don't walk on a highway — 高速公路 is for motor vehicles only; pedestrians are prohibited)

Origin & History

Compound of 高速 (high-speed) and 公路 (public road), meaning a high-speed public road.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal