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驾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
驾jiàsurname JiaHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #4257, Hard
驾jiàto harnessHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #4257, Hard
驾jiàto draw (a cart etc)HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #4257, Hard
驾jiàto driveHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #4257, Hard
驾jiàto pilotHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #4257, Hard
驾jiàto sailHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #4257, Hard
驾jiàto rideHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #4257, Hard
驾jiàyour good selfHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #4257, Hard
驾jiàprefixed word denoting respect (polite 敬辞)HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #4257, Hard
驾jiàto drive, to ride, to sail; carriage, cartHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 马, rank #4257, Hard
jià(Jia4) T4
  1. 1to harness
  2. 2to draw (a cart etc)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
驾(駕)jià(Jia4)

The character 驾 (jià) primarily means 'to drive' or 'to pilot,' and is often used in contexts related to operating vehicles or navigating. It can also denote respect when used as a prefix, often implying courtesy towards the person being addressed. This character is commonly found in formal or polite speech, especially in contexts involving transportation or authority.

Strokes8Radical马Frequency#4257DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the act of driving or piloting can be associated with responsibility and authority, especially in professional contexts such as aviation. The word 驾 is often used in formal announcements or invitations, reflecting the importance of respect in societal interactions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a majestic chariot being driven by a skilled charioteer. The character 驾 has the radical for 'horse' (马) suggesting movement, while the top part resembles a roof, symbolizing a vehicle. Picture the charioteer calling out 'jià!' as they expertly navigate the roads, linking the sound to the action of driving.

Meanings of 驾

jià(Jia4)
1to harness
2to draw (a cart etc)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 驾

驾Simplified
駕Traditional
8Strokes
马Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#4257Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 驾

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Podcast: 驾

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AI Study Notes for 驾

Quick Contrast

驾驶 (jiàshǐ) - use 驾 when emphasizing respect or formality in driving contexts, while 驾驶 focuses more on the act of driving itself.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a majestic chariot being driven by a skilled charioteer. The character 驾 has the radical for 'horse' (马) suggesting movement, while the top part resembles a roof, symbolizing a vehicle. Picture the charioteer calling out 'jià!' as they expertly navigate the roads, linking the sound to the action of driving.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 驾 (jià) with similar-sounding characters like 加 (jiā, to add), which can lead to misunderstandings. It's important to use this character in formal contexts to show respect, particularly when addressing someone of higher status or authority. Be mindful of the tone, as it can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 驾 is not specifically categorized in the HSK levels, it connects to other transportation-related vocabulary commonly found in HSK 3 and above. Students should focus on recognizing how this character is used in compound words related to driving or piloting, such as 驾驶 (jià shǐ, to drive).

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the act of driving or piloting can be associated with responsibility and authority, especially in professional contexts such as aviation. The word 驾 is often used in formal announcements or invitations, reflecting the importance of respect in societal interactions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 驾 (jià) with 家 (jiā, home/family), leading to incorrect sentences like '我驾在家' (wǒ jià zài jiā) instead of using 驾 in a proper driving context. Ensure you use 驾 specifically for actions related to driving or piloting.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 驾

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Etymology of 驾

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

Phonosemantic compound. 马 represents the meaning and 加 represents the sound. Simplified form of 駕.

Memory Hint

horse

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 驾?

Decomposition of 驾

IDS Structure⿱加马
驾Full Character
=
加Jia1
top
马Ma3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 驾?

Write 驾

驾

Practice writing 驾 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 驾

驾 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 10 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.

是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3

This pattern emphasizes the action of driving or piloting by specifying the context or the object involved.

我是开车去的。

Wǒ shì kāichē qù de.

I drove there.

Exercise 1 of 1

Build the Sentence

I drove there.

Tap tokens to build the sentence

Common Confusions with 驾

驾vs加
jiā

Different meaning but similar pronunciation.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "to harness"?

or

Usage Notes for 驾

Avoid Confusing with Similar SoundsCommon Error

Make sure to distinguish between 驾 and similar-sounding characters like 加 to avoid miscommunication.

1

我不会加速。

I cannot accelerate.

Example Sentences for 驾 (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
她很快就对母亲这一角色驾轻就熟了。

tā hěn kuài jiù duì mǔ qīn zhè yī jiǎo sè jià qīng jiù shú le。

She took to mothering like a duck to water.
4
机场地勤人员试图阻止这位飞行员驾机起飞。

jī cháng dì qín rén yuán shì tú zǔ zhǐ zhè wèi fēi háng yuán jià jī qǐ fēi。

The airport ground crew tried to dissuade the pilot from taking off.
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
他驾车急速通过大门。

tā jià chē jí sù tōng guò dà mén。

He drove his car through the gates at full pelt.
7
后来才知道保罗把驾照忘在家里了。

hòu lái cái zhī dào bǎo luó bǎ jià zhào wàng zài jiā lǐ le。

It transpired that Paolo had left his driving licence at home.
8
酒后驾车是个常年存在的问题。

jiǔ hòu jià chē shì gè cháng nián cún zài de wèn tí。

Drinking and driving is a problem all the year round.
9
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.
10
劳驾你服从我要给出的指令好不好？

láo jià nǐ fú cóng wǒ yào gěi chū de zhǐ líng hǎo bù hǎo？

Will you kindly obey the instructions I am about to give?

Cultural Notes for 驾

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the act of driving or piloting can be associated with responsibility and authority, especially in professional contexts such as aviation. The word 驾 is often used in formal announcements or invitations, reflecting the importance of respect in societal interactions.

Word Family of 驾

Words Containing This Character20
驾驶jiàshǐto drive駕駛
驾jiàto harness駕
驾车jiàchēto drive a vehicle駕車
驾驶员pilot駕駛員
驾照jiàzhàodriver's license駕照
劳驾láojiàexcuse me勞駕
驾驭jiàyùto drive駕馭
驾驶证driver's license駕駛證
驾驶舱cockpit駕駛艙
凌驾to be above凌駕
驾校driving school駕校
驾驶人(car, van) driver駕駛人
保驾escort the Emperor (also used jocularly)保駕
驾轻就熟lit. an easy drive on a familiar path (idiom); fig. experience makes progress easy駕輕就熟
并驾齐驱to run neck and neck並駕齊驅
驾临your arrival (honorific)駕臨
尊驾you尊駕
大驾imperial chariot大駕
驾御to drive駕御
驾驶执照driver's license駕駛執照
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 驾驶 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 驾

驾 (jià) and 开 (kāi) both relate to driving, but they are used in different contexts. 驾 often implies a more formal or technical aspect of controlling a vehicle, while 开 is more commonly used in everyday speech for 'to open' or 'to drive.'