How to Write 骑 (jì/qí) — Meaning “To ride”

Imagine a horse (马) with a strange rider (奇) balancing on its back. The left side is the horse, and the right side looks like a person sitting oddly — that unusual picture helps you recall both parts. Just remember: a horse plus something strange equals riding.

Pay attention to the left radical 马: its last stroke is a horizontal line, not a curved hook, and it should be narrow. The right part 奇 has a large top (大) and a bottom part (可), so make sure the top is not too small. A common mistake is making the 马 too wide, which ruins the balance.

骑 (jì) means 'to ride', while 骁 (xiāo) means 'brave' or 'valiant' in a horse-related sense, and 骄 (jiāo) means 'proud' or 'arrogant'. Visually, 骑 uses 奇 on the right, 骁 uses 尧, and 骄 uses 乔. So their right sides are all different, and their meanings are unrelated to riding.

骑 is commonly used for riding animals (like horses or camels) and bikes (骑车). It appears in the word 骑士 (qí shì), meaning 'knight', which is a modern term borrowed from Western culture. You'll see 骑 in everyday conversation when talking about cycling or horseback riding.

Common words containing 骑 include: 骑车 (qí chē) — To ride a bike; 骑马 (qí mǎ) — To ride a horse; 骑士 (qí shì) — Knight; rider.