gāosù: 高速 - High Speed, Expressway, Highway

• Keywords: gāosù, 高速, Chinese for highway, Chinese for high speed, expressway in China, gāosù gōnglù, 高速公路, high-speed rail, what does gāosù mean, driving in China, Chinese bullet train
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word gāosù (高速), which literally means “high speed.” While it can describe anything fast, its most common use in modern China refers to the vast network of expressways or highways (高速公路) and the world-renowned high-speed rail system (高铁). This term is a key to understanding China's rapid development and modern infrastructure.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gāosù
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: Pertaining to or having a high speed; an expressway.
• In a Nutshell: Gāosù is the Chinese word for “high speed.” Think of it as the label for anything that moves fast in a modern, technological way. While you can use it as an adjective (e.g., “high-speed development”), you'll most frequently encounter it as a noun, serving as shorthand for 高速公路 (gāosù gōnglù), the expressway or highway system that connects the country, or 高速铁路 (gāosù tiělù), the famous bullet trains. It’s a word that embodies motion, modernity, and national progress.

• 高 (gāo): Meaning “high,” “tall,” or “advanced.” The character is a pictogram of a tall structure, like a watchtower or pagoda, with a roof, an upper story, and a base.
• 速 (sù): Meaning “speed” or “fast.” This character is composed of the 辶 (chuò) radical on the left, which signifies movement or walking, and 束 (shù) on the right, which originally meant to tie or bind. Together, they create the idea of concentrated, bound-up energy being released as swift movement.
• Combined Meaning: The characters combine logically and literally: 高 (high) + 速 (speed) = 高速 (high speed).

The term 高速 (gāosù) is deeply tied to the narrative of modern China's meteoric rise. It's more than just a word for “fast”; it's a symbol of “China Speed” (中国速度 - Zhōngguó sùdù), the concept of achieving massive infrastructure and economic goals in an incredibly short period. In the West, particularly in America, the “Interstate Highway System” evokes images of the mid-20th century, road trips, and individual freedom. It was a monumental achievement that connected a vast nation. China's 高速 (gāosù) network is the 21st-century equivalent, but built on a scale and at a pace previously unimaginable. For the Chinese people, the ever-expanding web of expressways and high-speed rail lines is a tangible source of national pride. It represents:

• Connectivity: Linking remote provinces to economic hubs, enabling the free flow of goods and people.
• Modernity: A visible sign that China has caught up with and, in some areas like high-speed rail, surpassed other developed nations.
• Efficiency: A cultural value placed on getting things done quickly and effectively, which the gāosù system facilitates.

Where the American highway might symbolize the leisurely “open road,” the Chinese gāosù more often symbolizes the fast-paced, goal-oriented pulse of the nation's economy and society.

Gāosù is a high-frequency word used in daily life, especially concerning travel and development.

• As a Noun (most common): When used alone, 高速 almost always means “expressway” or “highway.”
  • “我正在高速上。” (Wǒ zhèngzài gāosù shàng.) - “I'm on the highway right now.”
  • “我们下高速吧。” (Wǒmen xià gāosù ba.) - “Let's get off the highway.”
  • It refers to controlled-access toll roads, not just any large road.
• As an Adjective: It modifies nouns to mean “high-speed.”
  • 高速发展 (gāosù fāzhǎn) - high-speed development
  • 高速摄影 (gāosù shèyǐng) - high-speed photography
  • 高速旋转 (gāosù xuánzhuǎn) - high-speed rotation
• In Compound Words: It forms the basis of many important terms.
  • 高速公路 (gāosù gōnglù) - The full term for expressway/highway.
  • 高速铁路 (gāosù tiělù) - High-speed railway. This is often shortened to the ubiquitous term 高铁 (gāotiě).

• Example 1:
  • 春节期间高速上堵车很严重。
  • Pinyin: Chūnjié qījiān gāosù shàng dǔchē hěn yánzhòng.
  • English: During the Spring Festival, the traffic jams on the highway are very serious.
  • Analysis: Here, 高速 is used as a noun meaning “highway.” This is a very common real-life scenario in China.
• Example 2:
  • 为了节省时间，我们决定走高速。
  • Pinyin: Wèile jiéshěng shíjiān, wǒmen juédìng zǒu gāosù.
  • English: To save time, we decided to take the highway.
  • Analysis: “走高速” (zǒu gāosù) is a set phrase meaning “to take/use the highway.”
• Example 3:
  • 中国的经济在过去几十年里高速发展。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó de jīngjì zài guòqù jǐ shí nián lǐ gāosù fāzhǎn.
  • English: China's economy has developed at high speed over the past few decades.
  • Analysis: This shows 高速 used as an adverbial adjective modifying the verb “发展” (develop).
• Example 4:
  • 前方两公里处有高速出口。
  • Pinyin: Qiánfāng liǎng gōnglǐ chù yǒu gāosù chūkǒu.
  • English: There is a highway exit two kilometers ahead.
  • Analysis: “高速出口” (gāosù chūkǒu) means “highway exit,” a crucial term for any driver.
• Example 5:
  • 这台新相机支持高速连拍。
  • Pinyin: Zhè tái xīn xiàngjī zhīchí gāosù liánpāi.
  • English: This new camera supports high-speed continuous shooting.
  • Analysis: An example of 高速 in a technical context, modifying a feature.
• Example 6:
  • 在高速上开车，请勿超速。
  • Pinyin: Zài gāosù shàng kāichē, qǐng wù chāosù.
  • English: When driving on the highway, please do not speed.
  • Analysis: A formal warning you might see on road signs. Note the use of “在…上” to mean “on the…”
• Example 7:
  • 我们公司的业务正处于高速增长期。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de yèwù zhèng chǔyú gāosù zēngzhǎng qī.
  • English: Our company's business is currently in a period of high-speed growth.
  • Analysis: A common business phrase using 高速 figuratively to describe rapid economic or business expansion.
• Example 8:
  • 这是去上海的高速入口吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì qù Shànghǎi de gāosù rùkǒu ma?
  • English: Is this the highway entrance for Shanghai?
  • Analysis: “高速入口” (gāosù rùkǒu) is the on-ramp or entrance to the highway.
• Example 9:
  • 高速服务区可以加油和吃饭。
  • Pinyin: Gāosù fúwùqū kěyǐ jiāyóu hé chīfàn.
  • English: You can get gas and eat at the highway service area.
  • Analysis: “服务区” (fúwùqū) is a service area, a key piece of vocabulary for long-distance travel.
• Example 10:
  • 从北京到广州坐高速列车只需要八个小时。
  • Pinyin: Cóng Běijīng dào Guǎngzhōu zuò gāosù lièchē zhǐ xūyào bā gè xiǎoshí.
  • English: It only takes eight hours to get from Beijing to Guangzhou by high-speed train.
  • Analysis: Here, 高速 modifies “列车” (lièchē - train) to specify a high-speed train. Most people would shorten this to “高铁” (gāotiě).

• 高速 (gāosù) vs. 快 (kuài): This is a critical distinction.
  • 快 (kuài) is the general, everyday word for “fast” or “quick.” It's used for people, actions, and time. (e.g., 你跑得真快! - You run so fast! 快点! - Hurry up!)
  • 高速 (gāosù) is more formal and technical. It describes a sustained, high-level, often machine-driven speed. It's used for systems, infrastructure, and technology.
  • Incorrect: 他跑得高速。 (Tā pǎo de gāosù.)
  • Correct: 他跑得很快。 (Tā pǎo de hěn kuài.)
• “Highway” isn't always 高速: In English, “highway” can refer to any major public road. In Chinese, 高速 (or 高速公路) specifically refers to a controlled-access expressway with tolls and high speed limits, like an American “freeway” or “turnpike.” A regular, non-tolled major road is simply a 公路 (gōnglù) or a 国道 (guódào) (national road). Using 高速 for a city street or a rural two-lane road is incorrect.
• Noun vs. Adjective: Remember that when you hear 高速 by itself in a conversation about travel, the speaker almost certainly means “the expressway.”

• 高铁 (gāotiě) - The common abbreviation for 高速铁路 (high-speed railway). One of the most important concepts in modern Chinese travel.
• 高速公路 (gāosù gōnglù) - The full, formal name for “expressway” or “highway.”
• 公路 (gōnglù) - A public road or highway in general. It lacks the “high-speed, controlled-access” connotation of 高速.
• 国道 (guódào) - A national highway. These are major arteries, but not all are up to 高速 standards.
• 速度 (sùdù) - The general noun for “speed” or “velocity.” 高速 is a high degree of 速度.
• 快速 (kuàisù) - Fast, rapid. A close synonym, but 高速 often implies a higher, more sustained, and technologically advanced speed.
• 堵车 (dǔchē) - Traffic jam. An unfortunate but common experience on a 高速.
• 发展 (fāzhǎn) - Development, growth. A word frequently modified by 高速.
• 入口 (rùkǒu) - Entrance, on-ramp (e.g., 高速入口).
• 出口 (chūkǒu) - Exit, off-ramp (e.g., 高速出口).