驾御 (jià yù) — to drive (a horse or vehicle); (figurative) to control, to master, to command

Definition

Literary/formal verb meaning 'to drive' (a horse or vehicle) or, figuratively, 'to control / master' a difficult situation or emotion. Marked as a written register; the everyday spoken word for driving a car is 开车.

verb
to drive (a horse or vehicle)(figurative) to controlto masterto command
Easily confused

Examples

  • 驾御。
    Tā cóng xiǎo jiù huì jià yù mǎ chē.
    He's known how to drive a carriage since he was young.
  • 驾御。
    Zhè wèi jīng lǐ shàn yú jià yù fù zá jú miàn.
    This manager is good at handling complex situations.
  • 驾御。
    Tā hěn nán jià yù zì jǐ de nù huǒ.
    She finds it hard to control her anger.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

驾jiàdrive
御yùcontrol

驾 and 御 both refer to controlling a horse, giving the sense of mastery or control.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 駕; 驾 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎ
Sound part声符shēngfú
加
加jiā駕jià
Same sound today

In the traditional form 駕, 馬 relates to a horse, and 加 gives the sound; this story is about 駕, not the simplified 驾.

Open 驾 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
卩卩jiékneeling person
Sound part声符shēngfú
午
午wǔ御yù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The form combines 午 and 卩, a kneeling person; walking signs add action, and the whole form means govern.

Open 御 →

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