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March 24, 2026
履lǚ(lü3)
The character 履 (lǚ) primarily refers to shoes or footwear and carries the meaning of 'to tread on' or 'to walk'. It is commonly used in contexts related to clothing, personal attire, and movement, symbolizing both physical and metaphorical journeys.
Strokes15Radical尸Frequency#32851DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, shoes symbolize one's social status and personal journey, often reflecting the importance of proper attire in various societal roles. 履 also appears in idiomatic expressions that convey deeper meanings about one's actions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person treading lightly in a pair of shoes (履) while walking on a beautiful path. The roof radical (亻) represents a person and the bottom part (履) looks like shoes, helping you recall both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 履
lǚ(lü3)
primary
1shoe
2to tread on
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 履
履Simplified
15Strokes
尸Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#32851Frequency Rank
Podcast: 履
Podcast: 履
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AI Study Notes for 履
Quick Contrast
鞋 (xié, shoes) — 履 emphasizes the act of walking or treading, while 鞋 simply denotes the item of footwear.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person treading lightly in a pair of shoes (履) while walking on a beautiful path. The roof radical (亻) represents a person and the bottom part (履) looks like shoes, helping you recall both the meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
When using 履, it's important to remember that it can sound formal in certain contexts, such as in literature or classical texts. Common collocations include 履行 (lǚxíng), meaning 'to fulfill', which can confuse learners. Pay attention to the third tone to ensure correct pronunciation.
HSK Study Tips
Although 履 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, its meaning connects to other HSK words related to movement and clothing, such as 走 (zǒu) for 'to walk' and 鞋 (xié) for 'shoes'. Focus on recognizing the character in reading contexts.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, shoes symbolize one's social status and personal journey, often reflecting the importance of proper attire in various societal roles. 履 also appears in idiomatic expressions that convey deeper meanings about one's actions.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 履 with similar characters like 鞋 (xié), which means 'shoes' but is more specific. For instance, saying '我穿履' (Wǒ chuān lǚ) instead of '我穿鞋' (Wǒ chuān xié) would be incorrect; instead, use '鞋' for everyday conversation about shoes.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 履
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Grammar Patterns of 履
履 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
委员会的委员们都是些年轻妇女, 很好地____行了她们的职责.
The committee, who were all young women, fulfilled their duties admirably.
Example Sentences for 履 (7)
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1
委员会的委员们都是些年轻妇女, 很好地履行了她们的职责.
wěi yuán huì de wěi yuán mén dū shì xiē nián qīng fù nǚ, , hěn hǎo dì lǚ háng le tā mén de zhí.
The committee, who were all young women, fulfilled their duties admirably.
2
他相信盟友们会履行他们的承诺。
tā xiāng xìn méng yǒu mén huì lǚ háng tā mén de chéng nuò。
He was confident the allies would make good on their pledges.
In traditional Chinese culture, shoes symbolize one's social status and personal journey, often reflecting the importance of proper attire in various societal roles. 履 also appears in idiomatic expressions that convey deeper meanings about one's actions.
Word Family of 履
Words Containing This Character13
履行xíngto perform
履历résumé履歷
履lǚshoe
西装革履impeccably attired西裝革履
如履薄冰fig. to be extremely cautious
步履gait
履约to keep a promise履約
履带(literary) shoes and belt履帶
履历表resume履歷表
步履维艰to walk with difficulty步履維艱
削足适履impractical or inelegant solution削足適履
革履leather (shoes)
履险如夷fig. to handle a crisis effortlessly履險如夷
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 履行 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 履
The correct pronunciation is lǚ with a falling-rising tone, which is important to distinguish from similar-sounding words.
Yes, while it is more formal, it can be used in everyday contexts, particularly when discussing shoes or walking.
Common phrases include 履行 (lǚxíng), meaning 'to fulfill', which is often used in legal or formal contexts.
