Chinese word

特快

Pronunciation

Pinyintè kuài

Meaning

  • nounexpress train

Example

下周我坐特快回家。xià zhōu wǒ zuò tè kuài huí jiā

Next week I will take the express train home.

Illustration for 特快 (express train)

More examples

站台广播宣布，特快即将通过本站。zhàn tái guǎng bō xuān bù tè kuài jí jiāng tōng guò běn zhàn

The platform announcement said that the express train would soon pass through this station.

Core concept

A fast rail service that trades some station stops for a shorter journey.

Common phrases

  • 特快通过tè kuài tōng guò

    express train passes through

  • 让特快先行ràng tè kuài xiān xíng

    let the express train go first

Similar words

高铁gāo tiě: A high-speed rail train built to link cities quickly on dedicated high-speed routes.
动车dòng chē: A high-speed passenger train whose cars have their own motors.
快车kuài chē: A passenger train that saves time by traveling fast and stopping at fewer stations.
直达列车zhí dá liè chē: A train that travels directly to the terminal station, stopping very little on the route.

Definition in Chinese

指比普通列车行驶速度更快、停靠站点较少的客运列车，常见表记为“特快列车”。zhǐ bǐ pǔ tōng liè chē xíng shǐ sù dù gèng kuài tíng kào zhàn diǎn jiào shǎo de kè yùn liè chē cháng jiàn biǎo jì wèi tè kuài liè chē

Word origin

特快 (tèkuài, "express train") is formed from 特 (tè, "special") and 快 (kuài, "fast"), a direct description of a specially fast train service.

Usage tips

  • English uses "express" in several transport contexts, but here the word specifically names a passenger rail service, so context separates it from express buses or delivery services.

Other meanings

  • limited expressnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 特快专递tè kuài zhuān dìexpress deliverynoun

Word lists with this word