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跄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
跄
qiāng
to stagger, to stumble
x, 11 strokes, radical 足
跄
qiāng
walk rapidly
unknown, 11 strokes, radical 足
跄
qiāng
stagger
unknown, 11 strokes, radical 足
跄
qiāng
sway from side to side
unknown, 11 strokes, radical 足
跄
qiàng
to stagger, to stumble
x, 11 strokes, radical 足
跄
qiàng
walk rapidly
unknown, 11 strokes, radical 足
跄
qiàng
stagger
unknown, 11 strokes, radical 足
跄
qiàng
sway from side to side
unknown, 11 strokes, radical 足
qiāng(qiang1)qiang
primary
T1
1to stagger, to stumble
2walk rapidly
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March 24, 2026
跄(蹌)qiāng(qiang1)
The character 跄 (qiāng) refers to the act of staggering or stumbling while walking. It conveys a sense of unsteady movement, often implying a lack of balance or control. This word is commonly used in contexts where someone is walking quickly but unevenly, perhaps due to fatigue or distraction.
Strokes11Radical足
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese medicine, staggering can be associated with imbalances in the body, emphasizing the importance of physical stability and health. The concept of balance is often reflected in practices like Tai Chi, where smooth, controlled movements are prized.
Memory tip
Imagine a person named 'Qiang' who is trying to walk a straight line but keeps stumbling side to side, resembling a drunkard. The character 跄 has the foot radical (走) on the left, indicating movement, combined with the 'qiang' sound, helping you remember that it relates to an unsteady way of walking.
Meanings of 跄
qiāng(qiang1)
primary
1to stagger, to stumble
2walk rapidly
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 跄 means.
About 跄
跄Simplified
蹌Traditional
11Strokes
足Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 跄
Podcast: 跄
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AI Study Notes for 跄
Quick Contrast
踉 (liāng) - use 跄 (qiāng) when emphasizing a staggering motion due to imbalance, while 踉 (liāng) often suggests a stumbling motion that may not necessarily imply a lack of balance.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 跄 with similar-sounding characters like 抢 (qiǎng), which means to grab or snatch. This word is generally informal and might not be used in very polite or formal contexts. Common collocations include phrases like '走路时跄' (stagger while walking).
HSK Study Tips
Although 跄 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be linked to other movement-related words at HSK Level 3, such as 跑 (pǎo, to run) or 走 (zǒu, to walk). Students should focus on recognizing the foot radical and understanding the nuances of movement-related verbs.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 跄 with other movement verbs like 走 (zǒu, to walk) or 跑 (pǎo, to run). For example, saying '我走得很跄' (Wǒ zǒu dé hěn qiāng) is incorrect; it should be '我走得很不稳' (Wǒ zǒu dé hěn bù wěn) to correctly express unsteadiness.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 跄
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How Well Do You Know 跄?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 跄 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
跄 = 足 + 仓. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 跄
IDS Structure⿰足仓
跄Full character
=
足ju4
left
仓cang1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 跄?
How to say to stagger, to stumble in Chinese
“to stagger, to stumble” in Chinese is跄qiāng
The character 跄 (qiāng) refers to the act of staggering or stumbling while walking. It conveys a sense of unsteady movement, often implying a lack of balance or control. This word is commonly used in contexts where someone is walking quickly but unevenly, perhaps due to fatigue or distraction.
When to use 跄
Be cautious not to confuse 跄 with similar-sounding characters like 抢 (qiǎng), which means to grab or snatch. This word is generally informal and might not be used in very polite or formal contexts. Common collocations include phrases like '走路时跄' (stagger while walking).
跄 or something close to it
踉 (liāng) - use 跄 (qiāng) when emphasizing a staggering motion due to imbalance, while 踉 (liāng) often suggests a stumbling motion that may not necessarily imply a lack of balance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 跄 with other movement verbs like 走 (zǒu, to walk) or 跑 (pǎo, to run). For example, saying '我走得很跄' (Wǒ zǒu dé hěn qiāng) is incorrect; it should be '我走得很不稳' (Wǒ zǒu dé hěn bù wěn) to correctly express unsteadiness.
Write 跄
跄
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Practice writing 跄 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 跄
跄 carries 4 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我踉踉____跄地，不得不抓住一把椅子稳住自己。
I staggered and had to clutch at a chair for support.
