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跣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
跣xiǎnbarefootg, 13 strokes, radical 足
跣xiǎnbarefootedunknown, 13 strokes, radical 足
xiǎn(xian3) T3
  1. 1barefoot
  2. 2barefooted
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

跣xiǎn(xian3)

The character 跣 (xiǎn) means 'barefoot' or 'barefooted,' indicating a lack of footwear. It is often used to describe a state of being without shoes, whether in everyday conversation or in literary contexts. This term can evoke feelings of freedom or connection to nature but can also imply a lack of preparedness.

Strokes13Radical足
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being barefoot is sometimes associated with relaxation and natural living, especially in rural areas where people may walk without shoes. This character can also relate to traditional practices, such as Tai Chi, which is often performed barefoot.

Memory Tip

Imagine a child running joyfully through the grass, feeling the cool earth beneath their feet. The character 跣 has the radical '走' (to walk) and combines it with '山' (mountain), suggesting walking without shoes in nature. Remember 'xiǎn' as 'sheer' like the feeling of bare feet on soft grass.

Meanings of 跣

xiǎn(xian3)
1barefoot
2barefooted
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 跣

跣Simplified
13Strokes
足Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 跣

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Podcast: 跣

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AI Study Notes for 跣

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 跣 with similar characters like 光 (guāng), which means 'light' or 'bare.' Remember that 跣 specifically refers to being without shoes. It is mainly used in informal contexts, and common collocations include phrases like '光脚走路' (to walk barefoot).

HSK Study Tips

Although not included in HSK levels, 跣 can be connected to basic vocabulary related to the body, clothing, and nature. Focus on understanding how this character can be used in descriptive phrases, and practice associating it with other verbs related to movement.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 跣 with the character 脚 (jiǎo), meaning 'foot.' For example, saying '我喜欢跣脚' is incorrect; the proper usage would be '我喜欢跣着走' (I like to walk barefoot).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 跣

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Etymology of 跣

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

foot

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 跣

  1. 1The meaning half足 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half先 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayfoot
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 跣? 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 跣?

Decomposition of 跣

IDS Structure⿰足先
跣Full Character
=
足ju4
left
先xian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 跣?

How to say barefoot in Chinese

“barefoot” in Chinese is跣xiǎn

The character 跣 (xiǎn) means 'barefoot' or 'barefooted,' indicating a lack of footwear. It is often used to describe a state of being without shoes, whether in everyday conversation or in literary contexts. This term can evoke feelings of freedom or connection to nature but can also imply a lack of preparedness.

When to use 跣

Learners often confuse 跣 with similar characters like 光 (guāng), which means 'light' or 'bare.' Remember that 跣 specifically refers to being without shoes. It is mainly used in informal contexts, and common collocations include phrases like '光脚走路' (to walk barefoot).

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 跣 with the character 脚 (jiǎo), meaning 'foot.' For example, saying '我喜欢跣脚' is incorrect; the proper usage would be '我喜欢跣着走' (I like to walk barefoot).

Write 跣

跣

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 跣

Words Containing This Character2
跣xiǎnbarefooted
蓬头跣足unkempt蓬頭跣足
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 跣 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 跣

You can say '我喜欢在家里跣着走' (I like to walk barefoot at home).

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