The Meaning of kyūkō [急行] In Japanese

急行
きゅうこう
Romaji: kyūkō N5

What does 急行 mean?

Translation and Meaning

express train, rapid service, to hurry

Definition

急行 means an express train or rapid service. In railway contexts it labels a faster class of passenger service than local trains. The term can also appear as 急行する (kyūkō suru) to mean hurry or hasten.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Expedited rail service that skips several stops, providing a quicker journey than local trains.
  • As a verb phrase 急行する, to hurry or rush, used to express urgency in general contexts.
  • Occurs in headlines or notices to denote urgency or rapid action beyond railways.

Etymology

kyū from 急 and kō from 行; combined as kyūkō.

Origin

Meiji period onward; adopted into railway terminology to denote express service faster than local trains.

Composition

  • 急: urgent, sudden; speed and immediacy
  • 行: go, travel; movement; service when combined forms a travel or movement concept

Usage

Used in timetables, railway announcements, and formal notices. As a noun it refers to the express train service, and as 急行する it means to hurry or hasten.
💡 Tips
Dica: pense em urgência; 急 sugere pressa, e quando aparece com 行 ele transmite a ideia de ir rapidamente. associe kyū (urgente) + kō (ir/travessar) ao conceito de velocidade.

Variations

  • 特急 (tokkyū) — limited express
  • 普通 (futsū) — local train
  • 急行列車 (kyūkō resha) — express train

Example Phrases

  • 朝の電車で急行に乗り、遅刻を防いだ。
    Asa no densha de kyūkō ni nori, chikoku o fuseida.
    I rode the express train in the morning to avoid being late.
    Lista:
    • 朝の (asa no) – in the morning
    • 電車で (densha de) – on the train
    • 急行 (kyūkō) – express train
    • に (ni) – to
    • 乗り (nori) – riding
    • 遅刻を (chikoku o) – lateness
    • 防いだ (fuseida) – prevented
    「急行」 means express train; here it is used with に乗る to indicate boarding that service.
急行