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踝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
踝huáianklen, 15 strokes, radical 足, rank #19336, Very Hard
huái(huai2)huai T2
  1. 1ankle
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March 24, 2026

踝huái(huai2)

The character 踝 (huái) specifically refers to the ankle, the joint connecting the foot to the leg. It is commonly used in medical or anatomical contexts, often when discussing injuries or conditions related to the ankle. In casual conversation, it may also come up in discussions about sports or physical activity.

Strokes15Radical足Frequency#19336DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the health of the ankle is often linked to overall mobility and balance, reflecting the importance of physical activity in Chinese culture. Ankle injuries are common in martial arts, which highlights the need for strong and healthy ankles.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'high' (huái sounds like 'high') jump at the 'ankle' level, where you need to be careful not to twist your ankle while jumping. Picture someone jumping high and landing awkwardly, causing an injury to their ankle, which helps you remember both the sound and the meaning.

Meanings of 踝

huái(huai2)
1ankle
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 踝

踝Simplified
15Strokes
足Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 踝

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Podcast: 踝

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AI study notes for 踝

Quick Contrast

踝 (ankle) vs 脚 (foot) — use 踝 when specifically referring to the ankle joint, while 脚 refers to the entire foot.

Usage Notes

When using 踝, it's important to pair it with other terms for clarity, such as 踝关节 (ankle joint). Learners often confuse it with 脚 (foot), so ensure you differentiate between the two. The character is neutral in tone, making it suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 踝 is not part of the standard HSK levels, it is practical for learners focused on health or sports-related vocabulary. Students should also familiarize themselves with related terms like 脚 (foot) and 腿 (leg) to build a more comprehensive understanding of lower limb anatomy.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly write 踝 with the wrong radicals, confusing it with 脚 (foot). Ensure to remember the unique components that differentiate it, particularly the radical 足 (foot) that indicates its meaning relates to the lower limb.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 踝

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Etymology of 踝

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 果 represents the sound.

Memory hint

foot

Semantic (meaning)足
+
Phonetic (sound)果
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

踝 = 足 + 果. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 踝

IDS Structure⿰足果
踝Full character
=
足ju4
left
果guo3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 踝?

How to say ankle in Chinese

“ankle” in Chinese is踝huái

The character 踝 (huái) specifically refers to the ankle, the joint connecting the foot to the leg. It is commonly used in medical or anatomical contexts, often when discussing injuries or conditions related to the ankle. In casual conversation, it may also come up in discussions about sports or physical activity.

When to use 踝

When using 踝, it's important to pair it with other terms for clarity, such as 踝关节 (ankle joint). Learners often confuse it with 脚 (foot), so ensure you differentiate between the two. The character is neutral in tone, making it suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

踝 or something close to it

踝 (ankle) vs 脚 (foot) — use 踝 when specifically referring to the ankle joint, while 脚 refers to the entire foot.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly write 踝 with the wrong radicals, confusing it with 脚 (foot). Ensure to remember the unique components that differentiate it, particularly the radical 足 (foot) that indicates its meaning relates to the lower limb.

Write 踝

踝

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

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Grammar patterns of 踝

踝 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 5

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他因摔倒而严重扭伤了脚____。

He had wrenched his ankle badly from the force of the fall.

Example sentences for 踝 (7)

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1
他因摔倒而严重扭伤了脚踝。

tā yīn shuāidǎo ér yánzhòng niǔ shāng le jiǎo huái。

He had wrenched his ankle badly from the force of the fall.
2
加文·黑斯廷斯脚踝受伤,被扶下了场。

jiā wén· hēi Sī tíng Sī jiǎo huái shòushāng, bèi fú xià le chǎng。

Gavin Hastings was helped from the field with ankle injuries.
3
踝节部肿得很厉害.

huái jié bù zhǒng de hěn lìhai.

The ankle was badly swollen.
4
不一会儿,乔治的脚踝就开始一阵阵地疼。

bùyīhuìr, qiáo zhì de jiǎo huái jiù kāishǐ yízhèn zhèndì téng。

Presently George's ankle began to throb with pain.
5
舒什广场周围的泥水深及脚踝。

Shū shén guǎngchǎng zhōuwéi de ní shuǐ shēn jí jiǎo huái。

The mud is ankle deep around Shush Square.
6
注意用于稳定踝部的臂夹板.

zhùyì yòngyú wěndìng huái bù de bì jiā bǎn.

Note the armboard used to stabilize ankle.
7
我笨拙地跌在地上,扭伤了脚踝.

wǒ bènzhuō dì diē zài dìshang, niǔ shāng le jiǎo huái.

I landed awkwardly and twisted my ankle.

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Word Family of 踝

Words containing this character5
脚踝ankle腳踝
踝huáiankle
外踝lateral malleolus
内踝medial malleolus內踝
踝骨ankle
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 踝

What does 脚踝 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 踝

It is pronounced as 'huái', with a rising tone.

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