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靴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
xuēbootsn, 13 strokes, radical 革, rank #8130, Hard
xuē(xue1) T1
  1. 1boots
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
xuē(xue1)

靴 (xuē) refers specifically to boots, which are a type of footwear that covers the foot and often extends up the leg. This term is commonly used in both casual and formal contexts when discussing various styles of boots, from fashion boots to work boots.

Strokes13RadicalFrequency#8130DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, different styles of 靴 are often associated with specific seasons, such as warm, insulated boots for winter. Fashion trends in boots can also reflect regional styles and preferences in China.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'shoe' that has 'legs'—靴 looks like a shoe with added height, resembling a tall boot. The 'xu' in xuē can remind you of 'shoe,' while the 'ē' can be associated with 'elevation' or 'height.'

Meanings of 靴

xuē(xue1)
1boots
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 靴

Simplified
13Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 靴

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 靴

Quick Contrast

靴 (boots) vs 鞋 (shoes) — choose 靴 when referring specifically to boots that cover the ankle or higher.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'shoe' that has 'legs'—靴 looks like a shoe with added height, resembling a tall boot. The 'xu' in xuē can remind you of 'shoe,' while the 'ē' can be associated with 'elevation' or 'height.'

Usage Notes

When using 靴, be aware that it is typically used in a formal context compared to the more general term 鞋 (xié) for shoes. A common mistake is confusing 靴 with 鞋; remember that 靴 refers specifically to boots, not all footwear.

HSK Study Tips

靴 is not currently included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it connects well with other footwear-related words like 鞋 (xié) and 布鞋 (bùxié, cloth shoes). Students should focus on the context of clothing and accessories when learning this word.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, different styles of 靴 are often associated with specific seasons, such as warm, insulated boots for winter. Fashion trends in boots can also reflect regional styles and preferences in China.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 靴 when they mean shoes in general. For example, saying '我买了一双靴' (I bought a pair of boots) when they actually meant '鞋' (shoes) is incorrect. The correct sentence would be '我买了一双鞋.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 靴

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Etymology of 靴

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

Phonosemantic compound. 革 represents the meaning and 化 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鞾.

Memory Hint

leather

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 靴?

Decomposition of 靴

IDS Structure⿰革化
Full Character
=
ge2
left
hua1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 靴?

Write 靴

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 靴

靴 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 4

Complete the Sentence

我的双手、____子和裤子上都沾满了泥巴。

My hands, boots and trousers were plastered with mud.

Example Sentences for 靴 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我的双手、靴子和裤子上都沾满了泥巴。

wǒ de shuāng shǒu、 、 xuē zǐ hé kù zǐ shàng dū zhān mǎn le ní。

My hands, boots and trousers were plastered with mud.
2
脚蹬帅气钉靴的足球运动员走进了球场。

jiǎo dēng shuài qì dīng xuē de zú qiú yùn dòng yuán zǒu jìn le qiú cháng。

Footballers in whopping great studded boots walk over the pitch.
3
滑雪板、滑雪靴和滑雪服皆有出租。

huá xuě bǎn、 、 huá xuě xuē hé huá xuě fú jiē yǒu chū。

Hire of skis, boots and clothing, is all available.
4
在挑选长筒靴的时候,购买上等的好皮靴将是明智的选择。

zài tiāo xuǎn cháng tǒng xuē de shí hòu, , gòu mǎi shàng děng de hǎo pí xuē jiāng shì míng zhì de xuǎn。

When selecting boots, fine, quality leather will be a wise investment.
5
要把马练好,缰绳靴刺不可少.

yào bǎ mǎ liàn hǎo, , jiāng shéng xuē cì bù kě.

It is the bridle and spur that makes a good horse.
6
他那双黑色高筒靴被擦得光鉴照人。

tā nà shuāng hēi sè gāo tǒng xuē bèi cā dé guāng jiàn zhào rén。

His high black boots had been shined to a gleaming finish.
7
他坐下来脱掉那沾满泥的靴子。

tā zuò xià lái tuō diào nà zhān mǎn ní de xuē zǐ。

He sat down to remove his mud-crusted boots.
8
球员可以给烤菜豆做广告,但不能代言橄榄球靴。

qiú yuán kě yǐ gěi kǎo cài dòu zuò guǎng gào, , dàn bù néng dài yán gǎn lǎn qiú。

The players can advertise baked beans, but not rugby boots.
9
他穿着衬衫和黑裤子,脚蹬皮靴,看上去很帅气。

tā chuān zháo chèn shān hé hēi kù zǐ, , jiǎo dēng pí, xuē , kàn shàng qù hěn。

He was smartly dressed in a shirt, dark trousers and boots.
10
门厅里到处乱扔着玩具和雨靴。

mén tīng lǐ dào chǔ luàn rēng zháo wán jù hé yǔ xuē。

The entrance hall is littered with toys and wellington boots.

Cultural Notes for 靴

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, different styles of 靴 are often associated with specific seasons, such as warm, insulated boots for winter. Fashion trends in boots can also reflect regional styles and preferences in China.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, boots are often more associated with fashion, while in China, they can have practical as well as fashion-related connotations, especially during seasonal changes.

Word Family of 靴

Words Containing This Character5
xuēboots
靴子xuēziboots
雨靴rain boots
马靴riding boots馬靴
隔靴搔痒ineffectual隔靴搔癢
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 靴 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 靴

靴 can refer to various types of boots, including ankle boots, knee-high boots, and winter boots.