Meaning
高速 literally means 'high speed' and functions both as an adjective describing rapid velocity and as a shortened noun for 高速公路 (expressway/freeway). It's widely used in modern Chinese to discuss anything moving or operating at high speeds, from trains to internet connections.
Usage
As a noun, 高速 is the colloquial way Chinese speakers refer to expressways or freeways. You'll frequently hear phrases like '上高速' (get on the expressway) or '在高速上' (on the expressway). As an adjective, it commonly appears before nouns to indicate high-speed versions of technology or transportation.
Examples
- 01我们走高速去北京吧，比较快。, .Let's take the expressway to Beijing, it's faster.
- 02中国的高速铁路发展得非常快。.China's high-speed rail has developed very rapidly.
Characters
Measure words
- 条一条高速公路
Common collocations
- 高速公路expressway, freeway
- 上高速to get on the expressway
- 高速列车high-speed train
- 高速增长rapid growth
Antonyms
Origin
Compound of 高 (high) and 速 (speed), this term emerged in modern Chinese alongside technological development and became especially common with the construction of expressway systems in China.