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March 24, 2026
趄jū(ju1)
The character 趄 (jū) primarily refers to the state of being weak or lame, often in relation to walking or movement. It can also imply the act of reclining or hesitating, suggesting a sense of indecision or pausing in one's actions. This word is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in literary or formal contexts.
Strokes12Radical走Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, physical ability is often linked to one's character and social status, making words describing weakness significant in literature and poetry. The concept of physical frailty has historical connotations in Chinese philosophy, relating to balance and harmony.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person trying to walk but weak and limping, representing the meaning of 'lame.' The character 趄 has the radical for 'foot' (足), which connects to the idea of walking, while the top part suggests a sense of leaning or reclining.
Meanings of 趄
jū(ju1)
primary
1weak, lame
2to hesitate
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 趄
趄Simplified
12Strokes
走Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 趄
Podcast: 趄
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AI Study Notes for 趄
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person trying to walk but weak and limping, representing the meaning of 'lame.' The character 趄 has the radical for 'foot' (足), which connects to the idea of walking, while the top part suggests a sense of leaning or reclining.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 趄 with similar words like 跌 (diē, to fall) or 蹒跚 (pánshān, to walk unsteadily). In formal writing, it may describe a person’s physical state or metaphorically represent hesitation. Be cautious with the tones, as jū is pronounced with a high tone.
HSK Study Tips
Though 趄 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance comprehension of more complex texts at higher levels. Focus on recognizing it in context, particularly in literature or formal writing, to deepen your grasp of nuanced meanings.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, physical ability is often linked to one's character and social status, making words describing weakness significant in literature and poetry. The concept of physical frailty has historical connotations in Chinese philosophy, relating to balance and harmony.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 趄 in contexts that require more common expressions for weakness, such as 弱 (ruò, weak). For example, saying '他很趄' (tā hěn jū) instead of '他很弱' (tā hěn ruò) is incorrect; the latter is more appropriate in everyday conversation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 趄
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Grammar Patterns of 趄
趄 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 1
Complete the Sentence
他失去平衡，往后趔____了一下，撞到栏杆摔倒了。
He lost his balance, staggered back against the rail and toppled over.
Example Sentences for 趄 (1)
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1
他失去平衡，往后趔趄了一下，撞到栏杆摔倒了。
tā shī qù píng héng， ， wǎng hòu liè qiè le yī， xià ， zhuàng dào lán gān shuāi。
He lost his balance, staggered back against the rail and toppled over.
Cultural Notes for 趄
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, physical ability is often linked to one's character and social status, making words describing weakness significant in literature and poetry. The concept of physical frailty has historical connotations in Chinese philosophy, relating to balance and harmony.
Word Family of 趄
Words Containing This Character4
趔趄to stagger
趄jūto hesitate
趑趄to advance with difficulty
趑趄不前hesitant and not daring to move forward (idiom)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 趔趄 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 趄
No, 趄 is more often found in literary or formal contexts rather than in everyday speech.
Synonyms include 跛 (bǒ, to limp) and 蹒跚 (pánshān, to walk unsteadily), although each has its own nuances.
You can visualize a weak person trying to walk, which connects to the character's meaning of being lame or hesitant.
