Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
驹 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
驹jūcolt; fleet, swift; surnameng, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #32704, Very Hard
jū(ju1) T1
  1. 1colt; fleet, swift; surname
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

驹(駒)jū(ju1)

驹 (jū) refers primarily to a young horse or colt. It can also convey the idea of swiftness or speed, often used in literary contexts. This character may also appear as a surname in some Chinese families.

Strokes8Radical马Frequency#32704DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, horses symbolize strength and speed, often associated with success and perseverance. The term 驹 is often found in poetry, reflecting the admiration for young, vigorous horses in traditional literature.

Memory Tip

Imagine a young horse (colt) galloping swiftly across a meadow. The character 驹 resembles a horse (马) with the added element of speed (represented by the radical ‘走’ which means to walk or run). Picture the colt racing ahead, 'jū' sounds like 'zoom', emphasizing its fleetness.

Meanings of 驹

jū(ju1)
1colt; fleet, swift; surname
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 驹

驹Simplified
駒Traditional
8Strokes
马Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 驹

JasonAmy

Podcast: 驹

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 驹

Usage Notes

Learners should be cautious not to confuse 驹 with similar characters like 马 (mǎ) which means horse in general. This word is more formal and literary, so it’s not commonly used in everyday conversation. It often appears in idiomatic expressions or poetry.

HSK Study Tips

Since 驹 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, students at HSK level 4 and above may encounter it in literature or advanced texts. Focus on recognizing the character in context and understanding its use in describing speed or youthfulness.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 驹 with 马 (mǎ) and may use it interchangeably, but 驹 specifically denotes a young horse or colt. For example, saying '我有一匹驹' (Wǒ yǒu yī pǐ jū) is correct, while saying '我有一匹马' (Wǒ yǒu yī pǐ mǎ) is too broad if referring specifically to a colt.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 驹

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 驹 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 驹

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

Phonosemantic compound. 马 represents the meaning and 句 represents the sound. Simplified form of 駒.

Memory Hint

horse

Semantic (meaning)马
+
Phonetic (sound)句
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 驹

Phonosemantic compound. 马 represents the meaning and 句 represents the sound. Simplified form of 駒.

  1. 1The meaning half马 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half句 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhorse
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 驹? 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 驹?

Decomposition of 驹

IDS Structure⿰马句
驹Full Character
=
马Ma3
left
句gou1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 驹?

How to say colt; fleet, swift; surname in Chinese

“colt; fleet, swift; surname” in Chinese is驹jū

驹 (jū) refers primarily to a young horse or colt. It can also convey the idea of swiftness or speed, often used in literary contexts. This character may also appear as a surname in some Chinese families.

When to use 驹

Learners should be cautious not to confuse 驹 with similar characters like 马 (mǎ) which means horse in general. This word is more formal and literary, so it’s not commonly used in everyday conversation. It often appears in idiomatic expressions or poetry.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 驹 with 马 (mǎ) and may use it interchangeably, but 驹 specifically denotes a young horse or colt. For example, saying '我有一匹驹' (Wǒ yǒu yī pǐ jū) is correct, while saying '我有一匹马' (Wǒ yǒu yī pǐ mǎ) is too broad if referring specifically to a colt.

Write 驹

驹

Practice writing 驹 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 驹

驹 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

“彗星”还跟“斯平威·哈维斯特”生下了这匹出类拔萃的小马____。

Comet also sired the champion foal out of Spinway Harvest.

Example Sentences for 驹 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
“彗星”还跟“斯平威·哈维斯特”生下了这匹出类拔萃的小马驹。

“ “ huì” xīng ”“ huán gēn “· sī píng wēi ·” hā wéi sī tè ” shēng xià le zhè pǐ chū lèi bá。

Comet also sired the champion foal out of Spinway Harvest.

Cultural Notes for 驹

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, a colt is simply viewed as a baby horse, but in Chinese literature, young horses symbolize not just youth but also potential and vitality, which is often celebrated in poetry and art.

Word Family of 驹

Words Containing This Character5
驹jūcolt駒
马驹young horse (colt or filly)馬駒
白驹过隙a white steed flits past a crack (idiom); How time flies!白駒過隙
龙驹fine horse龍駒
龙驹凤雏brilliant young man龍駒鳳雛
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 驹 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 驹

The tone for 驹 is the first tone (jū), which is high and level.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 驹?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.