How to Write 驱 (qū) — Meaning “To drive; to expel”

Imagine a horse (马) being forcefully driven out of a district (区). Picture the horse galloping away as you push it out. This visual of 'horse leaving area' helps link the components to the meaning of 'to drive away'.

Start with the left radical 马 using 3 strokes: horizontal, vertical, horizontal. Then write 区 with 4 strokes: horizontal, left-falling stroke, horizontal, vertical. A common mistake is making the left-falling stroke in 区 too straight; it should curve slightly to the left. Keep the horse radical narrow and the right part wider.

驱 (qū) means 'to drive' or 'to expel', and its right part is 区. 驭 (yù) means 'to ride' or 'to control a horse', and its right part is 又 (hand). 驮 (tuó) means 'to carry on the back', and its right part is 大 (big). Visually, the right-side component is the key difference: 区, 又, or 大.

驱 appears in words like 驱动 (qū dòng, 'to drive' or 'to activate', such as a device driver) and 驱赶 (qū gǎn, 'to drive away' or 'to banish'). It is frequently used in technology and daily life, for example, driving away insects or urging someone to act. Although it is not in the HSK list, it is a practical character for describing forceful movement.

Common words containing 驱 include: 驱动 (qū dòng) — To drive; to activate; 驱赶 (qū gǎn) — To drive away; to banish; 驱使 (qū shǐ) — To prompt; to urge.