How to Write 驾 (jià) — Meaning “to drive; to harness; carriage”

Imagine 'driving a horse' that has an extra '加' (addition) tied to it, like adding a cart. The radical 马 looks like a horse with four legs, and 加 on the right can be remembered as 'plus' — so you're adding a horse to your ride. Picture a horse pulling a cart with a plus sign on it.

Write the radical 马 first (three strokes: horizontal, vertical, and a curved hook), then the right part 加 (five strokes: left-falling, horizontal, vertical, horizontal, and a small horizontal hook). Ensure the left side is narrower and taller, while the right side is slightly wider — common mistakes include making the 马 stroke order wrong or writing the right part too large.

驮 (tuó) means 'to carry on the back' and uses 大 (big) on the right, showing a horse carrying a heavy load. 驯 (xùn) means 'tame' or 'domesticate' and has 川 (stream) on the right, suggesting a horse that follows a path. In contrast, 驾 uses 加 (add) and specifically means 'to drive' or 'harness' a vehicle.

驾 is very common in words like 驾驶 (driving a car or piloting a plane) and 驾照 (driver's license). It also appears in the polite phrase 劳驾 (láo jià), which means 'Excuse me' or 'May I trouble you?' — literally 'trouble your carriage,' reflecting traditional respect for another's vehicle or journey. This shows how 驾 carries a sense of movement and courtesy.

Common words containing 驾 include: 驾驶 (jià shǐ) — to drive; to pilot; 驾照 (jià zhào) — driver's license; 劳驾 (láo jià) — Excuse me; may I trouble you.