Meanings of 跤
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About 跤
Podcast: 跤
Podcast: 跤
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AI Study Notes for 跤
摔 (shuāi) vs 跌 (diē): Choose 跤 (jiāo) when emphasizing a loss of balance during a fall, while 摔 (shuāi) focuses on the act of falling or being thrown down, and 跌 (diē) generally refers to a fall without the wrestling context.
Be cautious with the tone, as jiāo is in the first tone and can be confused with similar-sounding words. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, particularly in sports or physical activities. Collocations include phrases like 跤倒 (jiāo dǎo - to fall over) or 摔跤 (shuāi jiāo - to wrestle).
While 跤 is not currently listed in the HSK vocabulary, it relates to other words at this level that involve movement or physical actions. Focus on the pronunciation and context of usage to build a stronger vocabulary around sports or physical activities.
Learners often confuse 跤 with 倒 (dǎo), which also means to fall but lacks the wrestling context. For example, saying '我摔跤' (wǒ shuāi dǎo) instead of '我跤' (wǒ jiāo) misses the specific nuance of wrestling or tumbling.
Pronunciation of 跤
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Etymology of 跤
Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 交 represents the sound.
foot
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 跤
Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 交 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half足 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half交 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 跤? 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 跤
Identify the Components
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How to say to tumble, to fall; to wrestle in Chinese
“to tumble, to fall; to wrestle” in Chinese is跤
The character 跤 (jiāo) primarily means to tumble or fall, and it can also refer to wrestling. It is often used in contexts related to physical activities or sports, particularly those involving falling or grappling. The nuance of this term conveys a sense of losing balance rather than simply falling accidentally.
When to use 跤
Be cautious with the tone, as jiāo is in the first tone and can be confused with similar-sounding words. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, particularly in sports or physical activities. Collocations include phrases like 跤倒 (jiāo dǎo - to fall over) or 摔跤 (shuāi jiāo - to wrestle).
跤 or something close to it
摔 (shuāi) vs 跌 (diē): Choose 跤 (jiāo) when emphasizing a loss of balance during a fall, while 摔 (shuāi) focuses on the act of falling or being thrown down, and 跌 (diē) generally refers to a fall without the wrestling context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 跤 with 倒 (dǎo), which also means to fall but lacks the wrestling context. For example, saying '我摔跤' (wǒ shuāi dǎo) instead of '我跤' (wǒ jiāo) misses the specific nuance of wrestling or tumbling.
Write 跤
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Practice writing 跤 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 跤
跤 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.
Complete the Sentence
她这一____跌得这么重，我想是救不过来了。
She fell so heavily I thought she was a goner.
Example Sentences for 跤 (10)
Word Family of 跤
Compound Meaning
What does 摔跤 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 跤
While both can mean to fall, 跤 (jiāo) often implies a more active or intentional fall, such as during wrestling, while 摔倒 (shuāi dǎo) is used for general falling.
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