快速

• Pinyin: kuài sù
• Hanzi breakdown: 快 = 忄(heart) + 夬 (decisive), meaning quick-hearted or fast; 速 = 辶 (movement) + 束 (bundle), meaning speed

Meaning

Fast; rapid; quick. Describes high speed in movement, action, or process.

A more formal synonym of 快 (fast), used to emphasise speed in a slightly more precise way. Common in written Chinese, news, and technical contexts. Often modifies nouns directly: 快速发展 (rapid development), 快速增长 (rapid growth). Can also be used as an adverb: 快速地 (rapidly).

Examples

1. 城市正在快速发展。 The city is developing rapidly.
2. 他快速地跑过了终点线。 He ran quickly past the finish line.
3. 请快速回答这个问题。 Please answer this question quickly.

Usage Guide

Context: description, news, instructions

Tone: urgent

Do Say

• 经济在快速增长。(The economy is growing rapidly.)
• 我们需要快速做出决定。(We need to make a decision quickly.)

Don't Say

• 你快速一点儿！(Don't use 快速 as a casual command to hurry up — use 快 instead. Say 你快一点儿！)

Origin & History

Compound of 快 (fast/quick) and 速 (speed). Both characters individually mean fast, and together they form an emphatic compound adjective common in modern standard Chinese.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal