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趔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
趔lièto stumble; to halt, to checkv, 13 strokes, radical 走
趔lièstumbleunknown, 13 strokes, radical 走
liè(lie4) T4
  1. 1to stumble; to halt, to check
  2. 2stumble
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March 24, 2026

趔liè(lie4)

The character 趔 (liè) means to stumble or to halt. It is often used in contexts where someone is tripping or losing balance, and can also imply a pause or check in movement. This word can convey both a physical action and a metaphorical sense of interruption.

Strokes13Radical走
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of stumbling can also metaphorically relate to unexpected setbacks in life, reflecting the broader view of resilience and the ability to recover from difficulties.

Memory Tip

Imagine someone trying to walk gracefully but suddenly trips over their own feet, causing them to 'liè' or stumble. The radical 足 (foot) suggests movement, while the character's form captures the suddenness of the stumble.

Meanings of 趔

liè(lie4)
1to stumble; to halt, to check
2stumble
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 趔

趔Simplified
13Strokes
走Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 趔

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Podcast: 趔

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AI Study Notes for 趔

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 趔 (liè) with similar-sounding words like 磨 (mó) which means to grind or polish. It is generally used in informal contexts, so avoid using it in formal writing. Common collocations include phrases related to falling or losing one's footing.

HSK Study Tips

Although not part of the official HSK levels, 趔 can be useful for learners at the intermediate level to expand their vocabulary related to movement and actions. Focus on practicing its pronunciation and using it in sentences about physical activities.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 趔 (liè) with 了 (le), leading to incorrect phrases like '我趔了' instead of the correct '我趔了一下' to indicate a stumble. Always remember to include the context when using it.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 趔

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Etymology of 趔

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

walk

Semantic (meaning)走
+
Phonetic (sound)列
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 趔

  1. 1The meaning half走 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half列 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywalk
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 趔? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 趔?

Decomposition of 趔

IDS Structure⿺走列
趔Full Character
=
走zou3
enclosing
列lie4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 趔?

How to say to stumble; to halt, to check in Chinese

“to stumble; to halt, to check” in Chinese is趔liè

The character 趔 (liè) means to stumble or to halt. It is often used in contexts where someone is tripping or losing balance, and can also imply a pause or check in movement. This word can convey both a physical action and a metaphorical sense of interruption.

When to use 趔

Be cautious not to confuse 趔 (liè) with similar-sounding words like 磨 (mó) which means to grind or polish. It is generally used in informal contexts, so avoid using it in formal writing. Common collocations include phrases related to falling or losing one's footing.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 趔 (liè) with 了 (le), leading to incorrect phrases like '我趔了' instead of the correct '我趔了一下' to indicate a stumble. Always remember to include the context when using it.

Write 趔

趔

Practice writing 趔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 趔

趔 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 2 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____趄了一下,撞到栏杆摔倒了。

He lost his balance, staggered back against the rail and toppled over.

Example Sentences for 趔 (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.

Word Family of 趔

Words Containing This Character2
趔趄to stagger
趔lièstumble
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 趔趄 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 趔

You can say, '他走路的时候突然趔了一下,' meaning 'He stumbled while walking.'

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