Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
馳chí(chi2)
The character 馳 (chí) primarily means 'to run' or 'to gallop,' conveying a sense of speed or haste. It is often used in contexts related to fast movement, whether literally, like a horse galloping, or metaphorically, such as rushing to complete tasks.
Strokes13Radical馬Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, horses have been symbols of speed and nobility, often depicted in art and literature. The concept of galloping horses is deeply rooted in historical narratives of warfare and travel.
Memory Tip
Imagine a horse (the radical 馬, mǎ) galloping swiftly across a field. The sound of its hooves echoes 'chí' through the air, reminding you of the speed it embodies. Visualize this horse charging forward to solidify the connection between the character's form and its meaning.
Meanings of 馳
chí(chi2)
1speed, haste; to run, to gallop
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 馳
馳Simplified
13Strokes
馬Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 馳
Podcast: 馳
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 馳
Quick Contrast
驰 (chí, gallop) vs 跑 (pǎo, run) — use 馳 for a sense of speed or urgency, while 跑 is more general for any running.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a horse (the radical 馬, mǎ) galloping swiftly across a field. The sound of its hooves echoes 'chí' through the air, reminding you of the speed it embodies. Visualize this horse charging forward to solidify the connection between the character's form and its meaning.
Usage Notes
馳 is often used in literary or formal contexts rather than everyday speech, making it more appropriate for written Chinese. Common collocations include 馳騁 (chí chěng, to gallop) or 馳騁於 (chí chěng yú, to run fast in a place). Be mindful of the tone; using a neutral tone can sound incorrect.
HSK Study Tips
Although 馳 is not present in the HSK curriculum, it connects well with other HSK words related to movement and speed, like 跑 (pǎo, to run) and 快 (kuài, fast). Students should focus on how this character expresses urgency and speed.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, horses have been symbols of speed and nobility, often depicted in art and literature. The concept of galloping horses is deeply rooted in historical narratives of warfare and travel.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 馳 with similar-sounding characters. For instance, using 吃 (chī, to eat) instead of 馳 can lead to misunderstandings. It's important to remember that 馳 relates to speed and movement.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 馳
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 馳 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 馳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 馳
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, horses have been symbols of speed and nobility, often depicted in art and literature. The concept of galloping horses is deeply rooted in historical narratives of warfare and travel.
Word Family of 馳
Words Containing This Character15
奔驰bēnchíto speed奔馳
驰chíto speed馳
飞驰to speed飛馳
背道而驰to run in the opposite direction (idiom); to run counter to背道而馳
驰骋to gallop馳騁
驰名chímíngfamous馳名
周星驰Stephen Chow (1962-), Hong Kong actor, comedian, screenwriter and film director, known for his mo lei tau 無厘頭|无厘头[wúlítóu] movies周星馳
疾驰to speed along疾馳
风驰电掣fast as lightning風馳電掣
心驰神往to long for心馳神往
古驰Gucci (brand)古馳
急驰to speed along急馳
驰援to rush to the rescue馳援
纵横驰骋to criss-cross縱橫馳騁
心荡神驰to be infatuated with心蕩神馳
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 奔驰 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 馳
馳 emphasizes speed and often implies a sense of urgency or galloping, while 跑 simply means to run without the same connotation of haste.
It's more common in written or formal contexts and less so in casual speech, where simpler words like 跑 are preferred.
The pinyin for 馳 is 'chí,' with a rising tone; practice by saying it while visualizing a horse galloping.
