unknown, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #20357, Very Hard
蹿
cuān
(coll.) to gush out
unknown, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #20357, Very Hard
蹿
cuān
to spurt out
unknown, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #20357, Very Hard
cuān(cuan1) T1
1to jump, to leap; to gush, to spurt
2to leap up
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March 24, 2026
蹿(躥)cuān(cuan1)
The character 蹿 (cuān) primarily means 'to jump' or 'to leap,' often used in contexts that convey a sense of sudden movement or vigorous action. It can also describe the action of something gushing or spurting out, such as a liquid. This word is commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, indicating energetic or rapid motion.
Strokes19Radical足Frequency#20357DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, images of leaping animals like dragons or tigers are often associated with power and vitality, which aligns with the meaning of 蹿 as an energetic leap. This character can evoke imagery of martial arts movements and lively performances.
Memory Tip
Imagine a rabbit (兔, tù) leaping (蹿, cuān) high into the air, and as it jumps, a fountain (喷泉, pēnquán) starts gushing water. The radical for 'foot' (足, zú) in 蹿 reminds you that this action involves movement, and the pronunciation 'cuān' sounds like 'swan,' which also leaps gracefully.
Meanings of 蹿
cuān(cuan1)
1to jump, to leap; to gush, to spurt
2to leap up
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 蹿
蹿Simplified
躥Traditional
19Strokes
足Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蹿
Podcast: 蹿
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AI Study Notes for 蹿
Quick Contrast
跳 (tiào) vs 蹿 (cuān): Use 蹿 when emphasizing sudden or vigorous movement, while 跳 is a more general term for jumping without the same connotation of urgency.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a rabbit (兔, tù) leaping (蹿, cuān) high into the air, and as it jumps, a fountain (喷泉, pēnquán) starts gushing water. The radical for 'foot' (足, zú) in 蹿 reminds you that this action involves movement, and the pronunciation 'cuān' sounds like 'swan,' which also leaps gracefully.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 蹿 with similar verbs like 跳 (tiào), which also means 'to jump' but is more common for normal jumping actions. 蹿 carries a connotation of suddenness and vigor. It is generally more informal, so consider the context when using it.
HSK Study Tips
Though 蹿 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can help learners connect with other movement-related verbs like 跳 (tiào) and 走 (zǒu) at HSK Level 2. Students should focus on the various contexts where vigorous or sudden movement is described, as well as related phrases.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, images of leaping animals like dragons or tigers are often associated with power and vitality, which aligns with the meaning of 蹿 as an energetic leap. This character can evoke imagery of martial arts movements and lively performances.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蹿 with 逃 (táo), which means 'to escape.' For example, saying '他蹿走了' (tā cuān zǒule) could incorrectly imply he jumped away when the intended meaning might be he escaped. Instead, use '他逃走了' (tā táo zǒule) for 'he escaped.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蹿
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Grammar Patterns of 蹿
蹿 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我的衬裙已经____到臀部，厚厚地卷成一圈。
My underskirt had ridden up into a thick band around my hips.
Example Sentences for 蹿 (7)
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1
我的衬裙已经蹿到臀部，厚厚地卷成一圈。
wǒ de chèn qún yǐ jīng cuān dào tún bù， ， hòu hòu dì juàn chéng yī。
My underskirt had ridden up into a thick band around my hips.
2
他的起跑近乎完美，迅速从那群人中蹿了出去。
tā de qǐ pǎo jìn hū wán měi， ， xùn sù cóng nà qún rén zhōng cuān le chū。
He got a near perfect start, streaking away from the pack.
Warwicks leap to third in the table, 31 points behind leaders Essex.
5
她感到胸中的怒火不断往上蹿，正越烧越旺。
tā gǎn dào xiōng zhōng de nù huǒ bù duàn wǎng shàng cuān， ， zhèng yuè shāo yuè。
She could feel the anger growing, bubbling up inside her.
6
火焰呼呼地蹿到了几百英尺的高空。
huǒ yàn hū hū dì cuān dào le jī bǎi yīng chǐ de gāo kōng。
Flames roared hundreds of feet into the air.
7
鱼儿在网中乱蹿乱跳.
yú ér zài wǎng zhōng luàn cuān luàn tiào.
The fishes thrashed about in the net.
Cultural Notes for 蹿
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, images of leaping animals like dragons or tigers are often associated with power and vitality, which aligns with the meaning of 蹿 as an energetic leap. This character can evoke imagery of martial arts movements and lively performances.
Word Family of 蹿
Words Containing This Character5
蹿cuānto leap up躥
蹿跳to bound forward躥跳
蹿腾to jump about wildly (coll.)躥騰
蹿房越脊lit. to leap the house and cross the roofridge (idiom); dashing over rooftops (of robbers and pursuing knight-errant 俠客|侠客 in fiction)躥房越脊
蹿蹦to jump up躥蹦
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 蹿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 蹿
You can say '他蹿起来了' (tā cuān qǐlái le), meaning 'He leaped up.'
No, 蹿 is typically used in informal contexts, such as spoken language or casual writing.
Synonyms include 跳 (tiào) for 'jump' and 冒 (mào) for 'spurt'.
