adjective / adverb HSK 5
rapid · at high speed · swift · 急速地: rapidly
Meaning
急速 describes something happening at an extremely fast pace or with great urgency. It combines 急 (urgent, hasty) and 速 (speed) to emphasize velocity or quickness that is both intense and immediate. It's commonly used to describe rapid changes, movements, or developments that occur in a short time frame.
Usage
Often used in formal or written contexts to describe dramatic or significant rapid changes, such as economic growth, technological advancement, or physical movement. As an adverb (急速地), it modifies verbs to indicate actions done swiftly. Less common in casual daily conversation compared to simpler words like 很快 or 迅速.
Examples
- 01经济在过去十年里急速发展。.The economy has developed rapidly over the past decade.
- 02汽车急速转弯，差点撞到路边的树。, .The car turned sharply at high speed and almost hit a tree by the roadside.
Characters
Common collocations
- 急速增长rapid growth
- 急速下降rapid decline
- 急速发展rapid development
- 急速前进advance rapidly
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters independently relate to speed and urgency, creating a compound that intensifies the meaning of rapidity.