How to Write 速 (sù) — Meaning “speed”

Imagine a person running so fast that they are just a blur of legs (辶) while carrying a bundle tied with a rope (束) — the bundle represents the 'bound' feeling of speed. The visual of a running figure holding a tight bundle helps connect the shape to the meaning of speed.

First write the left radical 辶 with its three strokes — note that the last stroke is a sweeping horizontal line that supports the right component. Then write 束 on the right, making sure the central mouth (口) is narrow and the vertical stroke (丨) goes through it, ending with the small dot at the top. A common mistake is making the right side too wide; keep it compact so the whole character fits within a square.

速 (speed) uses the radical 辶 with 束, while 迢 (remote) also uses 辶 but with 召 (call), meaning far distance. 迤 (winding) uses 辶 with 也 (also) and describes a winding or meandering path. In usage, 速 is common for speed, 迢 is rare and literary, and 迤 appears only in specific words like 迤逦 (winding).

速 appears in everyday words like 速度 (speed), 快速 (fast), and 高速 (highway), often in traffic, sports, or technology contexts. Culturally, 速 is neutral and widely used, but you may see it in compound terms like 速冻 (quick-freeze) or 速成 (crash course). It is a key character for discussing time efficiency in modern life.

Common words containing 速 include: 速度 (sù dù) — speed; 快速 (kuài sù) — fast; rapid; high-speed; 高速 (gāo sù) — high speed; expressway.