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踬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
踬zhìto stumble, to totter; to fail, to be frustratedvg, 15 strokes, radical 足
zhì(zhi4)zhi T4
  1. 1to stumble, to totter; to fail, to be frustrated
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March 24, 2026

踬(躓)zhì(zhi4)

The character 踬 (zhì) refers to the action of stumbling or tottering, often associated with losing one's balance. It can also convey a sense of failure or frustration in a broader context, such as experiencing setbacks in life or endeavors. This character is commonly used in both literal physical situations and metaphorical expressions of difficulty.

Strokes15Radical足
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the idea of stumbling can also symbolize the ups and downs of life’s journey, reflecting the belief that setbacks are a natural part of growth and success. This concept resonates with traditional philosophies that emphasize resilience in the face of challenges.

Memory tip

Imagine a person trying to walk on a tightrope but stumbling and losing balance. The character 踬 has the foot radical (足) at the bottom, emphasizing the connection to walking or stumbling. The pronunciation 'zhì' sounds like 'jitters'—which you might feel when you trip over something.

Meanings of 踬

zhì(zhi4)
1to stumble, to totter; to fail, to be frustrated
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 踬

踬Simplified
躓Traditional
15Strokes
足Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 踬

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AI study notes for 踬

Quick Contrast

踉跄 (liángqiàng) - use 踬 (zhì) for a more general sense of stumbling or failure, while 踉跄 specifically emphasizes an unsteady gait.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 踬, as it is a fourth tone (falling). This character is less common in everyday conversation, so it may be perceived as more formal. It is often found in literary contexts or in phrases describing challenges.

HSK Study Tips

Since 踬 is not in the standard HSK vocabulary lists, focus on its components and similar characters with the foot radical. Compare it with other movement-related verbs in Chinese to build a broader vocabulary around actions related to walking and balance.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 踬 with similar characters like 跌 (diē), which means to fall, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我踬了' (wǒ zhì le) when they mean 'I fell' is incorrect; it should be '我跌倒了' (wǒ diē dǎo le).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 踬

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Etymology of 踬

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

foot

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

Origin

踬 = 足 + 质. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 踬

IDS Structure⿰足质
踬Full character
=
足ju4
left
质zhi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 踬?

How to say to stumble, to totter; to fail, to be frustrated in Chinese

“to stumble, to totter; to fail, to be frustrated” in Chinese is踬zhì

The character 踬 (zhì) refers to the action of stumbling or tottering, often associated with losing one's balance. It can also convey a sense of failure or frustration in a broader context, such as experiencing setbacks in life or endeavors. This character is commonly used in both literal physical situations and metaphorical expressions of difficulty.

When to use 踬

Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 踬, as it is a fourth tone (falling). This character is less common in everyday conversation, so it may be perceived as more formal. It is often found in literary contexts or in phrases describing challenges.

踬 or something close to it

踉跄 (liángqiàng) - use 踬 (zhì) for a more general sense of stumbling or failure, while 踉跄 specifically emphasizes an unsteady gait.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 踬 with similar characters like 跌 (diē), which means to fall, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我踬了' (wǒ zhì le) when they mean 'I fell' is incorrect; it should be '我跌倒了' (wǒ diē dǎo le).

Write 踬

踬

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Word Family of 踬

Words containing this character1
踬zhìto stumble躓

Frequently asked questions about 踬

You can use 踬 in a sentence like: 他在路上踬了一下, meaning 'He stumbled on the road.'

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