Learn a Chinese Character - 驾

1. Character Basics

Radical: 马/mǎ radical (horse)

Stroke Count: 8

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jià

Pronunciation Note: Pronounced with a falling tone (fourth tone).

3. Meaning

to drive, to ride, to pilot, to harness, to mount, vehicle, carriage

4. Common Words

• 驾驶 (jiàshǐ) - to drive, to operate - The action of controlling a vehicle
• 驾车 (jiàchē) - to drive a car - To operate a car
• 驾驭 (jiàyù) - to control, to master - To have control over something
• 驾照 (jiàzhào) - driver's license - A document that permits someone to drive
• 驾临 (jiàlín) - (honorific) to come, to arrive - A polite way to say someone has arrived
• 驾车者 (jiàchēzhě) - driver - A person who drives a vehicle

5. Grammar & Usage

1. As a verb: "驾" is most commonly used as a verb meaning "to drive" or "to operate a vehicle", as in "驾车" (drive a car) or "驾驶飞机" (fly a plane).

2. In noun compounds: When used in compound nouns, it often refers to vehicles or driving-related concepts, such as "驾照" (driver's license) and "驾驶员" (driver).

3. As a verb complement: It can be used as a complement in verb phrases, such as "请您驾临寒舍" (Please come to my humble home).

4. In idioms: "驾" appears in many idiomatic expressions, such as "腾云驾雾" (téngyún-jiàwù) which means "to ride on clouds and mist" and is used to describe something magical or unrealistic.

6. Cultural Background

The character "驾" has historical roots in ancient Chinese culture where horse-drawn carriages were a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of status. In traditional Chinese literature, "驾" often appears in descriptions of royal processions and noble出行. The character's structure, combining the horse radical with the component for "add" or "press", reflects its original meaning of harnessing and controlling horses for transportation. Over time, its usage expanded to include driving other vehicles as transportation evolved.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "驾" consists of two parts: the radical "马" (horse) and the component "加" (to add, plus). You can remember it by thinking of adding (加) control to a horse (马) to drive or ride it. The original meaning of "驾" was to harness and control horses, which evolved to include driving other vehicles.