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跛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
跛bǒlamen, 12 strokes, radical 足, rank #15029, Very Hard
跛bǒto limpunknown, 12 strokes, radical 足, rank #15029, Very Hard
跛bǒcrippledunknown, 12 strokes, radical 足, rank #15029, Very Hard
bǒ(bo3)bo T3
  1. 1lame
  2. 2to limp
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March 24, 2026

跛bǒ(bo3)

The character 跛 (bǒ) refers to someone who is lame or has difficulty walking due to an injury or disability. It can also describe the action of limping. This term is often used in medical contexts or discussions about mobility.

Strokes12Radical足Frequency#15029DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese medicine, physical ailments like lameness are often discussed in the context of balance and energy flow, highlighting the importance of holistic health. The character reflects a sensitivity towards physical disabilities in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'bore' (sounds like 'bǒ') who can only walk with a limp, dragging one leg behind. The radical '足' (foot) suggests movement, while the left component hints at an unusual or problematic state of walking.

Meanings of 跛

bǒ(bo3)
1lame
2to limp
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 跛

跛Simplified
12Strokes
足Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 跛

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Podcast: 跛

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AI Study Notes for 跛

Quick Contrast

跛 (lame) vs 瘸 (crippled) — use 跛 for temporary or less severe conditions, while 瘸 implies a more permanent or severe disability.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 跛 (bǒ) as it is a third tone, which can change the meaning if mispronounced. This term is generally used in more formal or clinical settings rather than casual conversations. Common collocations include 跛脚 (lame foot) and 跛行 (to limp).

HSK Study Tips

While 跛 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of medical or descriptive language. Focus on the radicals and how they relate to movement, as well as practice using it in sentences about health.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 跛 with 瘸 (quē), which also means 'lame' but is used in different contexts. For example, saying '我跛了' (Wǒ bǒ le) is incorrect when referring to a chronic condition; use '我瘸了' (Wǒ quē le) instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 跛

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Etymology of 跛

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

Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 皮 represents the sound.

Memory hint

foot

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

Origin

跛 = 足 + 皮. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 跛

IDS Structure⿰足皮
跛Full character
=
足ju4
left
皮Pi2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 跛?

How to say lame in Chinese

“lame” in Chinese is跛bǒ

The character 跛 (bǒ) refers to someone who is lame or has difficulty walking due to an injury or disability. It can also describe the action of limping. This term is often used in medical contexts or discussions about mobility.

When to use 跛

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 跛 (bǒ) as it is a third tone, which can change the meaning if mispronounced. This term is generally used in more formal or clinical settings rather than casual conversations. Common collocations include 跛脚 (lame foot) and 跛行 (to limp).

跛 or something close to it

跛 (lame) vs 瘸 (crippled) — use 跛 for temporary or less severe conditions, while 瘸 implies a more permanent or severe disability.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 跛 with 瘸 (quē), which also means 'lame' but is used in different contexts. For example, saying '我跛了' (Wǒ bǒ le) is incorrect when referring to a chronic condition; use '我瘸了' (Wǒ quē le) instead.

Write 跛

跛

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

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Grammar Patterns of 跛

跛 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). It carries 3 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

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

那男孩因____脚被人讥笑, 变得羞怯而压抑.

Having been laughed at for his lameness, the boy became shy and inhibited.

Example Sentences for 跛 (5)

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1
那男孩因跛脚被人讥笑, 变得羞怯而压抑.

nà nán hái yīn bǒ jiǎo bèi rén jī xiào, , biàn dé xiū qiè ér yā.

Having been laughed at for his lameness, the boy became shy and inhibited.
2
该疾病能造成犬只疼痛和跛行.

gāi jí bìng néng zào chéng quǎn zhī téng tòng hé bǒ háng.

Other treatments include surgery , massage , warm compresses , chiropractic, and acupuncture.
3
他左腿跛了,走起路来一瘸一拐地.

tā zuǒ tuǐ bǒ le, , zǒu qǐ lù lái yī qué yī guǎi.

He is lame in the left leg and he walks lamely.
4
在一次事故中变跛之后, 他只能拄着拐杖走路.

zài yī cì shì gù zhōng biàn bǒ zhī hòu, , tā zhī néng zhǔ zháo guǎi zhàng zǒu.

Lame from the accident, he walked with a cane.
5
在一次事故中变跛了后, 他只能拄着拐杖走路.

zài yī cì shì gù zhōng biàn bǒ le hòu, , tā zhī néng zhǔ zháo guǎi zhàng zǒu.

Lame from the accident, he walked with a cane . A lameflying.

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Word Family of 跛

Words containing this character3
跛bǒlame
跛子lame person
跛脚to limp跛腳
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 跛

What does 跛子 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 跛

You can say '他走路的时候有点儿跛' (Tā zǒulù de shíhòu yǒudiǎn er bǒ) which means 'He walks with a bit of a limp.'

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