趕 meaning and stroke order
To pursue, to overtake; to hurry; to expel
How to write 趕, stroke by stroke
14 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 趕
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to overtake; to catch up with
- to hurry; to rush
- to try to catch (the bus etc)
- to drive (cattle etc) forward; to drive (sb) away
- to avail oneself of (an opportunity)
- until; by (a certain time)
How 趕 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Run.
走 gives the meaning and 旱 hints at the sound.
Radical: 走 (to walk), shared by 22 characters on this site.
How to remember 趕
趕 is built from 走 (zǒu, to walk or run) on the left and bottom, with 旱 (hàn) giving the sound. Picture someone running across dry, drought-hit 旱 land, rushing to catch up before the sun gets them.
趕 is the traditional form of 赶, and it shows up in words about hurrying or catching up, like 趕快 (gǎnkuài) and 趕上 (gǎnshàng). It can also mean driving animals or people away. Example: 我們得趕快走，不然趕不上火車。(Wǒmen děi gǎnkuài zǒu, bùrán gǎnbushàng huǒchē.) We have to hurry, or we won't catch the train.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 趕 (gǎn) with 敢 (gǎn, to dare) because they sound identical. Remember that 趕 has 走 because it is about moving fast, while 敢 is about courage.
Common words with 趕
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 趕快 | gǎnkuài | quickly; at once | HSK 3 |
| 趕緊 | gǎnjǐn | hurriedly; without delay | HSK 3 |
| 趕到 | gǎndào | to hurry (to some place) | HSK 3 |
| 趕上 | gǎnshàng | to keep up with; to catch up with | HSK 6 |
| 趕不上 | gǎnbushàng | can't keep up with; can't catch up with | HSK 6 |
| 趕忙 | gǎnmáng | to hurry; to hasten | HSK 6 |
| 追趕 | zhuīgǎn | to pursue; to chase after | HSK 7-9 |
| 趕往 | gǎnwǎng | to hurry to (somewhere) | HSK 7-9 |
| 趕赴 | gǎnfù | to hurry; to rush | HSK 7-9 |
| 趕走 | gǎnzǒu | to drive out; to turn back | |
| 趕來 | gǎnlái | to rush over | |
| 趕時間 | gǎnshíjiān | to be in a hurry | |
| 趕出 | gǎnchū | to drive away | |
| 趕路 | gǎnlù | to hasten on with one's journey; to hurry on |
Questions about 趕
How many strokes are in 趕?
趕 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 趕 mean?
趕 (gǎn) means to pursue, to overtake; to hurry; to expel. A common word with it is 赶快 (gǎnkuài), meaning "quickly; at once".
How do you pronounce 趕?
趕 is pronounced gǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 趕?
The radical of 趕 is 走, which carries the idea of "to walk". Dictionaries list 趕 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 趕?
趕 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 赶, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 趕快 and 趕緊?
Both mean to hurry or do something right away and are often interchangeable. 趕緊 can feel a bit more urgent, as if there is no time to lose.
Can 趕 be used for time, like a deadline?
Yes. 趕 can mean to rush to meet a time, as in 趕時間 (gǎn shíjiān, to be in a hurry) or 趕在五點前 (gǎn zài wǔ diǎn qián, before five o'clock).