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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Etymology of 跑
Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 包 represents the sound.
foot
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 跑
Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 包 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half足 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half包 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 跑? 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 跑
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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.
Complete the Sentence
我经常去公园____步。
I often go jogging in the park.
Example Sentences for 跑 (10)
Word Family of 跑
Compound Meaning
What does 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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