(gǎn) — to catch (a vehicle, event), to make it in time for; to hurry, to rush; to drive away, to shoo

Definition

A versatile verb: 'to rush/hurry' (赶时间), 'to make it in time for' (赶火车), or 'to drive/shoo away' (赶走). Unlike 忙 (busy), 赶 is the action of hurrying toward a goal.

verb
to catch (a vehicle, event)to make it in time forto hurryto rushto drive awayto shoo

Examples

  • Tā měi tiān dōu gǎn qī diǎn de huǒ chē shàng bān.
    He catches the 7 o'clock train to work every day.
  • Wǒ men yào gǎn shí jiān, kuài yì diǎn wán chéng zuò yè.
    We need to hurry and finish the homework a bit faster.
  • Nǐ gǎn zài sān diǎn zhī qián lái ma?
    Will you come by 3 o'clock?

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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 趕; 赶 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
hàngǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 趕 combines 走, for the meaning, and 旱, for the sound; this is about 趕, not 赶.

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