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驶 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
驶shǐto gallopv, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #8933, Hard
驶shǐspeedilyv, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #8933, Hard
驶shǐto proceed tov, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #8933, Hard
驶shǐto pilot (ship, plane etc)v, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #8933, Hard
驶shǐto sailv, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #8933, Hard
驶shǐto drive, to pilot, to ride; fast, quickv, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #8933, Hard
shǐ(shi3) T3
  1. 1to gallop
  2. 2speedily
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
驶(駛)shǐ(shi3)

The character 驶 (shǐ) primarily refers to the action of driving or piloting a vehicle, such as a car, ship, or plane. It conveys a sense of speed and movement towards a destination, often used in contexts involving transportation or travel. Additionally, it can imply galloping in a more poetic or descriptive way.

Strokes8Radical马Frequency#8933DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In modern China, transportation plays a vital role in daily life, with high-speed trains and busy highways. The word 驶 reflects this cultural emphasis on efficiency and speed in travel.

Memory Tip

Imagine a horse galloping swiftly (驶 sounds like 'she' and galloping horses make 'shh' sounds) along a smooth road. The character 驶 combines the radical for 'horse' (马) with the component that suggests movement, evoking the image of a fast ride.

Meanings of 驶

shǐ(shi3)
1to gallop
2speedily
Exercise 1 of 3

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 驶

驶Simplified
駛Traditional
8Strokes
马Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#8933Frequency Rank

Podcast: 驶

JasonAmy

Podcast: 驶

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 驶

Quick Contrast

行 (xíng) — use 驶 (shǐ) specifically for driving or piloting vehicles, while 行 (xíng) is more general for movement or walking.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a horse galloping swiftly (驶 sounds like 'she' and galloping horses make 'shh' sounds) along a smooth road. The character 驶 combines the radical for 'horse' (马) with the component that suggests movement, evoking the image of a fast ride.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 驶 with similar-sounding verbs that don't imply speed or direction. This word is typically used in formal contexts related to transportation, so avoid using it in casual conversation about walking. Be aware of the tonal pronunciation to prevent misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 驶 is not part of the HSK levels, it is useful for learners at HSK 4 or higher who are discussing travel or transportation. Focus on how 驶 can be combined with other words like 驾驶 (jiàshǐ) meaning 'to drive' or 'to operate' for a broader vocabulary in these contexts.

Cultural Note

In modern China, transportation plays a vital role in daily life, with high-speed trains and busy highways. The word 驶 reflects this cultural emphasis on efficiency and speed in travel.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 驶 with 走 (zǒu), which means 'to walk.' A wrong example would be saying '我走车' (Wǒ zǒu chē), which should be corrected to '我驾驶车' (Wǒ jiàshǐ chē) for clarity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 驶

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Etymology of 驶

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 马 represents the meaning and 史 represents the sound. Simplified form of 駛.

Memory Hint

horse

Semantic (meaning)马
+
Phonetic (sound)史
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 驶?

Decomposition of 驶

IDS Structure⿰马史
驶Full Character
=
马Ma3
left
史Shi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 驶?

Write 驶

驶

Practice writing 驶 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 驶

驶 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

“沙锥鸟”战斗机的驾____舱空间不太宽敞。

There was not much elbow room in the cockpit of a Snipe.

Common Confusions with 驶

驶vs市
shì

Same radical but different meaning

驶vs时
shí

Similar shape but different pronunciation and meaning

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "to gallop"?

or

Example Sentences for 驶 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
“沙锥鸟”战斗机的驾驶舱空间不太宽敞。

“ “ shā zhuī” niǎo ” zhàn dǒu jī de jià shǐ cāng kōng jiān bù tài。

There was not much elbow room in the cockpit of a Snipe.
2
库克船长驾驶的船安全出航100次无事故。

kù kè chuán cháng jià shǐ de chuán ān quán chū háng100 100 cì wú shì。

Captain Cook safely navigated his ship without accident for 100 voyages.
3
这趟火车每周一次往返行驶2,400英里。

zhè tàng huǒ chē měi zhōu yī cì wǎng fǎn háng shǐ2,400 2,400 yīng。

The train operates the 2,400-mile round trip once a week.
4
安注视着一辆缓缓驶过的警车。

ān zhù shì zháo yī liàng huǎn huǎn shǐ guò de jǐng chē。

Ann's eyes followed a police car as it drove slowly past.
5
持枪歹徒坐上一辆由同伙驾驶的摩托车逃逸。

chí qiāng dǎi tú zuò shàng yī liàng yóu tóng huǒ jià shǐ de mó tuō chē táo yì。

The gunman escaped on a motorcycle being ridden by an accomplice.
6
备好船后，他们就驶向了南边的卡洛福泰。

bèi hǎo chuán hòu， ， tā mén jiù shǐ xiàng le nán biān de kǎ luò fú。

After prepping the boat, they sailed it down to Carloforte.
7
较好的驾驶设备能够提升在湿滑路面上的抓地力。

jiào hǎo de jià shǐ shè bèi néng gòu tí shēng zài shī huá lù miàn shàng de zhuā dì lì。

Better driv-ing equipment will improve track adhesion in slippery conditions.
8
服务沿海地区的地方广播电台经常为驾驶游艇出海的人播报天气预报。

fú wù yán hǎi dì qū de dì fāng guǎng bō diàn tái jīng cháng wéi jià shǐ yóu tǐng chū hǎi de rén bō bào tiān qì yù bào。

Local radio stations serving coastal areas often broadcast forecasts for yachtsmen.
9
弗兰克·马里亚诺驾驶他那辆破烂不堪的皮卡车成功穿越了沙漠地带。

fú lán kè· · mǎ lǐ yà nuò jià shǐ tā nà liàng pò làn bù kān de pí kǎ chē chéng gōng chuān yuè le shā mò dì。

Frank Mariano negotiates the desert terrain in his battered pickup.
10
不良驾驶不仅仅是飙车小子们才会做的事。

bù liáng jià shǐ bù jǐn jǐn shì biāo chē xiǎo zǐ mén cái huì zuò de shì。

Bad driving is not just the preserve of boy racers.

Cultural Notes for 驶

🏮Cultural insight

In modern China, transportation plays a vital role in daily life, with high-speed trains and busy highways. The word 驶 reflects this cultural emphasis on efficiency and speed in travel.

Word Family of 驶

Words Containing This Character13
驾驶jiàshǐto drive駕駛
行驶xíngshǐto travel along a route (of vehicles etc)行駛
驾驶员pilot駕駛員
驶shǐto gallop駛
驾驶证driver's license駕駛證
驾驶舱cockpit駕駛艙
驶入(of a car, ship, train etc) to enter駛入
驾驶人(car, van) driver駕駛人
驶往bound for駛往
驶离to leave駛離
驾驶执照driver's license駕駛執照
驶出to leave port駛出
副驾驶员co-pilot副駕駛員
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 驾驶 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 驶

You can say '我会驾驶汽车' (Wǒ huì shǐjià qìchē), which means 'I can drive a car.'