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March 24, 2026
履lǚ(lv3)
The character 履 (lǚ) primarily refers to shoes or footwear and carries the meaning of 'to tread on' or 'to walk'. It is commonly used in contexts related to clothing, personal attire, and movement, symbolizing both physical and metaphorical journeys.
Strokes15Radical尸Frequency#32851DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, shoes symbolize one's social status and personal journey, often reflecting the importance of proper attire in various societal roles. 履 also appears in idiomatic expressions that convey deeper meanings about one's actions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person treading lightly in a pair of shoes (履) while walking on a beautiful path. The roof radical (亻) represents a person and the bottom part (履) looks like shoes, helping you recall both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 履
lǚ(lv3)
primary
1shoe
2to tread on
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 履
履Simplified
15Strokes
尸Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#32851Frequency Rank
Podcast: 履
Podcast: 履
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
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AI Study Notes for 履
Quick Contrast
鞋 (xié, shoes) — 履 emphasizes the act of walking or treading, while 鞋 simply denotes the item of footwear.
Usage Notes
When using 履, it's important to remember that it can sound formal in certain contexts, such as in literature or classical texts. Common collocations include 履行 (lǚxíng), meaning 'to fulfill', which can confuse learners. Pay attention to the third tone to ensure correct pronunciation.
HSK Study Tips
Although 履 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, its meaning connects to other HSK words related to movement and clothing, such as 走 (zǒu) for 'to walk' and 鞋 (xié) for 'shoes'. Focus on recognizing the character in reading contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 履 with similar characters like 鞋 (xié), which means 'shoes' but is more specific. For instance, saying '我穿履' (Wǒ chuān lǚ) instead of '我穿鞋' (Wǒ chuān xié) would be incorrect; instead, use '鞋' for everyday conversation about shoes.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 履
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1The giveawayA person 尸 walking 彳; 復 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 履? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 履?
Decomposition of 履
IDS Structure⿸尸復
履Full Character
=
尸shi1
enclosing
復fu4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 履?
How to say shoe in Chinese
“shoe” in Chinese is履lǚ
The character 履 (lǚ) primarily refers to shoes or footwear and carries the meaning of 'to tread on' or 'to walk'. It is commonly used in contexts related to clothing, personal attire, and movement, symbolizing both physical and metaphorical journeys.
When to use 履
When using 履, it's important to remember that it can sound formal in certain contexts, such as in literature or classical texts. Common collocations include 履行 (lǚxíng), meaning 'to fulfill', which can confuse learners. Pay attention to the third tone to ensure correct pronunciation.
履 or something close to it
鞋 (xié, shoes) — 履 emphasizes the act of walking or treading, while 鞋 simply denotes the item of footwear.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse 履 with similar characters like 鞋 (xié), which means 'shoes' but is more specific. For instance, saying '我穿履' (Wǒ chuān lǚ) instead of '我穿鞋' (Wǒ chuān xié) would be incorrect; instead, use '鞋' for everyday conversation about shoes.
Write 履
履
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Practice writing 履 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 履
履 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
委员会的委员们都是些年轻妇女, 很好地____行了她们的职责.
The committee, who were all young women, fulfilled their duties admirably.
Example Sentences for 履 (7)
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1
委员会的委员们都是些年轻妇女, 很好地履行了她们的职责.
wěi yuán huì de wěi yuán mén dū shì xiē nián qīng fù nǚ, , hěn hǎo dì lǚ háng le tā mén de zhí.
The committee, who were all young women, fulfilled their duties admirably.
2
他相信盟友们会履行他们的承诺。
tā xiāng xìn méng yǒu mén huì lǚ háng tā mén de chéng nuò。
He was confident the allies would make good on their pledges.
