特急
Meaning in Englishlimited express, special express
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
特急 means a special express train service that runs faster and stops at fewer stations than ordinary trains, providing prioritized, high-speed travel on rail networks.
Main meanings
- Primarily designates a high-speed train service that skips many stations
- Used to indicate priority or urgency in travel contexts (as a service descriptor)
- Appears on timetables and signage to mark premium routes
How to use it
Used in formal railway contexts such as timetables, station announcements, and signage; in everyday speech, it can describe high-priority or urgent travel needs but is primarily a transport term and not a generic synonym for 'urgent'.
Variants and close terms
- 急行 kyūkō — express (not limited-stop)
- 快速 kaisoku — rapid service
- 普通 futsū — local service
Composition
- 特: special
- 急: urgent/fast
- Combined meaning: fast, limited-stop express service
Etymology
特 (special) + 急 (urgent/fast) → tokkyū, a compound that labels a fast, limited-stop service.
Origin
Originated in the Japanese railway system during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, 特急 labeled trains designed for faster travel by skipping stops, distinguishing them from regular express and local services.
Word class
noun (名詞) – rail service designation