Meanings of 踬
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About 踬
Podcast: 踬
Podcast: 踬
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AI Study Notes for 踬
踉跄 (liángqiàng) - use 踬 (zhì) for a more general sense of stumbling or failure, while 踉跄 specifically emphasizes an unsteady gait.
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.
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.
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).
Pronunciation of 踬
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Etymology of 踬
foot
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 踬
- 1The meaning half足 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half质 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayfoot
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 踬? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 踬
Identify the Components
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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
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
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Practice writing 踬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 踬
Compound Meaning
What does 踬 mean?
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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