驾驶 means 'to drive' — specifically, to operate a motor vehicle such as a car, bus, or truck. It is a compound verb formed from two characters: 驾 (jià), which originally meant 'to ride or control a horse or chariot', and 驶 (shǐ), meaning 'to proceed, advance, or move forward'. Together, they convey the idea of actively controlling and guiding a vehicle in motion. Unlike the more casual term 开 (kāi), 驾驶 is formal, neutral, and commonly used in official contexts like traffic regulations, driving schools, and safety manuals.

This word is not used for non-motorized transport (e.g., riding a bicycle) or animals (e.g., riding a horse), nor does it apply to piloting aircraft or sailing ships — those require different verbs like 驾驶飞机 (for small aircraft) or 操纵 (cāozòng) in broader technical usage. It emphasizes lawful, skillful vehicle operation and often implies responsibility and training.