速度
sùdù
The English word speed is translated into Chinese as 速度 (sùdù).
速度 is a versatile noun used to describe both physical motion, such as the speed of a vehicle and abstract rates, such as the speed of technological development or internet speed.
Meaning: rate of motion (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 速度 is composed of the characters 速 (fast/speed) and 度 (degree/measure/limit).
Which one should you use?
While 速度 is the noun for speed, if you want to use the adjective for 'fast', you should use 快. Additionally, the term 速率 is used in scientific or mathematical contexts to specifically emphasize a rate or a rate of change.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the character 迅 is commonly used to indicate speed or swiftness.
How do you pronounce it?
sùdù
Did you know?
- In modern Chinese internet slang, the phrase 速度 is sometimes used as a command meaning 'hurry up' or 'do it quickly', acting more like an imperative verb than a noun.
- The character 度 in 速度 also means 'degree' as in temperature. This reflects a linguistic pattern where 'speed' is conceptualized as a measurable degree of movement.
- In professional racing or high-performance contexts, the phrase 极速 is used to denote 'top speed' or 'maximum velocity', often appearing in titles of action films.
Examples in context
- 在市区内，速度被限制在每小时五十公里以内。In towns, speed is limited to 50 km/h.This sentence illustrates the use of 速度 regarding speed limits in towns.Tatoeba #4104733 by maple, translation #119947 by 9h0ost
- 有速度限制吗?Is there a speed limit?This sentence shows how to ask about a speed limit using 速度.Tatoeba #9779960 by Ivanovb, translation #10540440 by sundown
- 总线速度逐步回升。The bus picked up the speed gradually.This sentence demonstrates how 速度 can describe a rate picking up or increasing.Tatoeba #733167 by mcq, translation #35299 by mcq
- 他的奔跑速度非常快。His running speed is very fast.
- 他跑得飞快，眨眼间就消失了。He ran so fast that he disappeared in the blink of an eye.
- 佢游得好迅呀！He swims very fast!
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Haoran and Zihan are jogging together in a park.
- 浩然 Haoran我们跑的速度太快了。Wǒmen pǎo de sùdù tài kuài le.Our running speed is too fast.
- 梓涵 Zihan那你稍微慢一点吧。Nà nǐ shāowēi màn yīdiǎn ba.Then please slow down a little bit.
- 浩然 Haoran好，我调整一下速度。Hǎo, wǒ tiáozhěng yīxià sùdù.Okay, I will adjust my speed.
- 梓涵 Zihan这样我就舒服多了。Zhèyàng wǒ jiù shūfú duō le.This makes me feel much more comfortable.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
