速 meaning and stroke order
Prompt, quick, speedy
How to write 速, stroke by stroke
10 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
Meaning of 速
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- fast
- rapid
- quick
- velocity
How 速 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Walk.
辶 gives the meaning and 束 hints at the sound.
Radical: 辶 (to walk), shared by 131 characters on this site.
How to remember 速
速 combines 辶 (walking, movement) with 束 (shù), which hints at the sound. Picture someone tying up a bundle 束 and then hurrying down the road 辶 to deliver it fast.
速 rarely appears alone in everyday speech. It mostly shows up in compound words like 速度 (sùdù, speed), 快速 (kuàisù, fast) and 高速 (gāosù, high speed). Example: 请减速慢行。(Qǐng jiǎnsù màn xíng.) Please slow down and drive carefully.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse the inner part 束 (shù, bundle) with 東/东 (dōng, east) or 末 (mò). 束 has a 口 shape crossed by a vertical stroke, with no extra horizontal line. Also remember the tone is fourth tone sù, not the second tone of 俗 (sú).
Common words with 速
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 速度 | sùdù | speed; rate; velocity; (music) tempo | HSK 3 |
| 快速 | kuàisù | fast; high-speed; rapid | HSK 3 |
| 高速公路 | gāosù gōnglù | expressway; highway; freeway | HSK 3 |
| 高速 | gāosù | high speed; expressway (abbr. for 高速公路[gao1 su4 gong1 lu4]) | HSK 3 |
| 迅速 | xùnsù | rapid; speedy | HSK 4 |
| 加速 | jiāsù | to accelerate; to speed up; to expedite | HSK 5 |
| 时速 | shísù | speed per hour | HSK 7-9 |
| 减速 | jiǎnsù | to reduce speed; to slow down | HSK 7-9 |
| 超速 | chāosù | to exceed the speed limit; to speed | HSK 7-9 |
| 火速 | huǒsù | at top speed; at a tremendous lick | HSK 7-9 |
| 车速 | chēsù | vehicle speed | HSK 7-9 |
| 飞速 | fēisù | swift; rapidly | HSK 7-9 |
| 提速 | tísù | to increase the specified cruising speed; to pick up speed | HSK 7-9 |
| 光速 | guāngsù | the speed of light; (fig.) extremely quickly |
速 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 速
How many strokes are in 速?
速 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 速 mean?
速 (sù) means prompt, quick, speedy. A common word with it is 速度 (sùdù), meaning "speed; rate; velocity; (music) tempo".
How do you pronounce 速?
速 is pronounced sù, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 速?
The radical of 速 is 辶, which carries the idea of "to walk". Dictionaries list 速 under this radical.
Is 速 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 速 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 快 and 速?
快 (kuài) is the everyday word for fast and works alone, as in 他跑得很快 (He runs fast). 速 is more formal and usually appears inside compounds such as 速度 or 迅速.
How do you say speed limit in Chinese?
Speed limit is 限速 (xiànsù), literally limit speed. You will see it on road signs, often with a number such as 限速60 meaning the limit is 60 km per hour.