Meanings of 跑
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About 跑
Podcast: 跑
Podcast: 跑
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AI Study Notes for 跑
跑 (pǎo) vs 走 (zǒu) — use 跑 for actions emphasizing speed or urgency, while 走 refers to walking or moving at a slower pace.
Learners often confuse 跑 with 走 (zǒu), which means 'to walk.' Remember that 跑 implies a faster pace. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but be careful with its collocations, like 跑步 (pǎobù) meaning 'to jog' or 'run.'
Although not officially listed in HSK levels, 跑 is essential for beginners, especially when discussing daily activities. Students should connect this verb with other motion-related words like 走 (to walk) and 跳 (to jump) to expand their vocabulary on movement.
Learners might incorrectly use 跑 in contexts where a more specific verb is needed, such as saying '我跑上课' instead of '我走上课' (I run to class). Remember that '走' is more appropriate for going to class at a normal pace.
Pronunciation of 跑
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Jason Explains 跑 to You
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Learning Lab
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 跑
Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 包 represents the sound.
foot
Origin
跑 = 足 + 包. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 跑
Parts
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How to say to run in Chinese
“to run” in Chinese is跑
The character 跑 (páo) primarily means 'to run' and can refer to both animals and humans. It is commonly used in contexts describing movement, escaping, or completing tasks quickly. The nuance includes a sense of urgency or speed in the action of running or fleeing.
When to use 跑
Learners often confuse 跑 with 走 (zǒu), which means 'to walk.' Remember that 跑 implies a faster pace. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but be careful with its collocations, like 跑步 (pǎobù) meaning 'to jog' or 'run.'
跑 or something close to it
跑 (pǎo) vs 走 (zǒu) — use 跑 for actions emphasizing speed or urgency, while 走 refers to walking or moving at a slower pace.
What learners get wrong
Learners might incorrectly use 跑 in contexts where a more specific verb is needed, such as saying '我跑上课' instead of '我走上课' (I run to class). Remember that '走' is more appropriate for going to class at a normal pace.
Write 跑
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Practice writing 跑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 跑
跑 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 9 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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我经常去公园____步。
I often go jogging in the park.
Example Sentences for 跑 (10)
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Word Family of 跑
Words with 跑
What does 逃跑 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 跑
You can say '我去跑步' (Wǒ qù pǎobù) which means 'I go running.'
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