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March 24, 2026
驱(敺)qū(qu1)
The character 驱 (qū) means to expel or drive away something, often used in contexts such as urging on a horse or prompting someone to act quickly. It can also imply driving something forward or motivating a person or animal to move faster. This character is commonly used in both everyday language and more formal contexts.
Strokes7Radical马Frequency#7137DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the image of driving horses was significant in agriculture and warfare, symbolizing power and control. The character reflects this cultural importance of urging on and driving forces, both literally and metaphorically.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person urging their horse to run quickly by waving a flag (the components of 驱). The left side represents movement (the radical for horse), while the right side suggests urging or pushing forward, which helps you remember 'drive' and 'expel' as meanings.
Meanings of 驱
qū(qu1)
1to expel
2to urge on
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 驱
驱Simplified
敺Traditional
7Strokes
马Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#7137Frequency Rank
Podcast: 驱
Podcast: 驱
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AI Study Notes for 驱
Quick Contrast
驱 (qū) vs 赶 (gǎn) — use 驱 when emphasizing expelling or driving away, while 赶 focuses on catching up or hurrying someone.
Usage Notes
Be cautious of the tone when pronouncing 驱, as it is a first tone. Common collocations include 驱动 (qūdòng) meaning 'to drive or motivate', and 驱逐 (qūzhú) meaning 'to expel'. It’s mainly used in formal contexts, so be mindful of the register.
HSK Study Tips
While 驱 is not officially listed in HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 4 words like 驱动 (to drive) and other action-related verbs. Focus on its usage in verbs that imply motion or action to enhance vocabulary acquisition.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 驱 with 驶 (shǐ), which means 'to drive' in the context of vehicles. Remember, 驱 is about urging or driving away, not just driving in a mechanical sense.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 驱
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Phonosemantic compound. 马 represents the meaning and 区 represents the sound. Simplified form of 驅.
1The meaning half马 carries the sense.
2The sound half区 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayhorse
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 驱? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 驱?
Decomposition of 驱
IDS Structure⿰马区
驱Full Character
=
马Ma3
left
区Ou1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 驱?
How to say to expel in Chinese
“to expel” in Chinese is驱qū
The character 驱 (qū) means to expel or drive away something, often used in contexts such as urging on a horse or prompting someone to act quickly. It can also imply driving something forward or motivating a person or animal to move faster. This character is commonly used in both everyday language and more formal contexts.
When to use 驱
Be cautious of the tone when pronouncing 驱, as it is a first tone. Common collocations include 驱动 (qūdòng) meaning 'to drive or motivate', and 驱逐 (qūzhú) meaning 'to expel'. It’s mainly used in formal contexts, so be mindful of the register.
驱 or something close to it
驱 (qū) vs 赶 (gǎn) — use 驱 when emphasizing expelling or driving away, while 赶 focuses on catching up or hurrying someone.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 驱 with 驶 (shǐ), which means 'to drive' in the context of vehicles. Remember, 驱 is about urging or driving away, not just driving in a mechanical sense.
Write 驱
驱
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Practice writing 驱 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 驱
驱 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
埃勒里的归来可以____散一些抑郁的情绪。
Ellery's return will help to chase away some of the gloom.
Example Sentences for 驱 (10)
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1
埃勒里的归来可以驱散一些抑郁的情绪。
āi lè lǐ de guī lái kě yǐ qū sàn yī xiē yì yù de qíng xù。
Ellery's return will help to chase away some of the gloom.
2
我驱车沿那条土路行进。
wǒ qū chē yán nà tiáo tǔ lù háng jìn。
I drove along the dirt road.
3
内政部通常会迅速地将不受欢迎人士驱逐出境。
nèi zhèng bù tōng cháng huì xùn sù dì jiāng bù shòu huān yíng rén shì qū zhú chū jìng。
The Home Office is usually quick to deport undesirables.
4
我们驱车向东去罗斯托克，但地图却给我指错了方向。
wǒ mén qū chē xiàng dōng qù luó sī tuō kè， ， dàn dì tú què gěi wǒ zhǐ cuò le fāng。
We drove east to Rostock, where my map led me astray.
