快车

• Pinyin: kuài chē
• Hanzi breakdown: 快 = 忄(heart) + 夬, fast; 车 = pictograph of a vehicle

Meaning

Express train; express bus; a vehicle that makes fewer stops for faster travel.

Refers to faster transportation options that skip some stops. Contrasted with 慢车 (local train/bus). Common types: 地铁快车 (express subway), 长途快车 (express long-distance bus). Also used in ride-hailing apps as a service tier (e.g., 滴滴快车). In railway terminology, distinct from 特快 (limited express) and 高铁 (high-speed rail).

Examples

1. 坐快车的话，到市中心只需要二十分钟，比慢车快一半。 Taking the express, it only takes twenty minutes to get to the city center, half the time of the local.
2. 这趟快车只停三个站，所以比普通列车早到半小时。 This express train only stops at three stations, so it arrives half an hour earlier than regular trains.
3. 上班高峰期我都打快车，虽然贵点但省时间。 During rush hour I always take ride-hailing express; it's a bit more expensive but saves time.

Usage Guide

Context: transportation, commuting

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 这班是快车还是慢车？(Is this train/bus express or local?)
• 快车不停这一站。(The express doesn't stop at this station.)

Don't Say

• 把快车和高铁混淆 (快车 is traditional express service; 高铁 specifically means high-speed rail)

Origin & History

Compound of 快 (fast, quick) + 车 (vehicle). A straightforward descriptive term for express transportation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal