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踊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
踊yǒngleapad, 14 strokes, radical 足, Hard
踊yǒngto leapad, 14 strokes, radical 足, Hard
yǒng(yong3) T3
  1. 1leap
  2. 2to leap
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

踊yǒng(yong3)

The character 踊 (yǒng) means 'to leap' or 'to jump,' typically referring to a lively or energetic movement. It is commonly used in contexts such as dance or celebration, where jumping is an essential part of the activity. The character often conveys a sense of joy and vitality.

Strokes14Radical足Frequency#5226DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, traditional dances often involve significant jumping or leaping, symbolizing joy and celebration during festivals. The character 踊 captures this energetic essence and is often associated with events like the Lantern Festival.

Memory Tip

Imagine a joyful dancer leaping high into the air, their feet barely touching the ground, representing the energy of the character 踊 (yǒng). The radical 足 (foot) signifies movement, while the character's pronunciation 'yǒng' can be remembered by picturing a young dancer performing leaps gracefully.

Meanings of 踊

yǒng(yong3)
1leap
2to leap
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 踊

踊Simplified
14Strokes
足Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 踊

JasonAmy

Podcast: 踊

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 踊

Quick Contrast

跳 (tiào) - use 踊 when emphasizing lively or energetic jumping, while 跳 is more general for any kind of jump.

Usage Notes

A common mistake is to confuse 踊 (yǒng) with 跳 (tiào), which also means 'to jump' but is used more generally. 踊 is more specific to lively or spirited jumps, often in a cultural context like dancing. Be mindful of using the correct tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to different meanings.

HSK Study Tips

While 踊 (yǒng) is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK words related to movement and dance, such as 跳 (tiào). Students should focus on understanding the nuances of movement-related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistake 踊 (yǒng) for 跳 (tiào), using it interchangeably in phrases like '跳舞' (tiào wǔ, to dance). Instead, use 踊 when specifically referring to energetic jumps in dance contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 踊

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Etymology of 踊

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

Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 甬 represents the sound. Simplified form of 踴.

Memory Hint

foot

Semantic (meaning)足
+
Phonetic (sound)甬
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 踊

Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 甬 represents the sound. Simplified form of 踴.

  1. 1The meaning half足 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half甬 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayfoot
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 踊? 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 踊?

Decomposition of 踊

IDS Structure⿰足甬
踊Full Character
=
足ju4
left
甬tong3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 踊?

How to say leap in Chinese

“leap” in Chinese is踊yǒng

The character 踊 (yǒng) means 'to leap' or 'to jump,' typically referring to a lively or energetic movement. It is commonly used in contexts such as dance or celebration, where jumping is an essential part of the activity. The character often conveys a sense of joy and vitality.

When to use 踊

A common mistake is to confuse 踊 (yǒng) with 跳 (tiào), which also means 'to jump' but is used more generally. 踊 is more specific to lively or spirited jumps, often in a cultural context like dancing. Be mindful of using the correct tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to different meanings.

踊 or something close to it

跳 (tiào) - use 踊 when emphasizing lively or energetic jumping, while 跳 is more general for any kind of jump.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistake 踊 (yǒng) for 跳 (tiào), using it interchangeably in phrases like '跳舞' (tiào wǔ, to dance). Instead, use 踊 when specifically referring to energetic jumps in dance contexts.

Write 踊

踊

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 踊

踊 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 2 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 1

Complete the Sentence

摄影记者们的长短火炮的镜头____簇着我们兜圈圈照相.

Photographers from the press would crowd around us to take pictures.

Example Sentences for 踊 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
摄影记者们的长短火炮的镜头踊簇着我们兜圈圈照相.

shè yǐng jì zhě mén de cháng duǎn huǒ páo de jìng tóu yǒng cù zháo wǒ mén dōu quān quān zhào xiāng.

Photographers from the press would crowd around us to take pictures.

Word Family of 踊

Words Containing This Character2
踊跃yǒngyuèto leap踴躍
踊yǒngleap
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 踊跃 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 踊

Yes, 踊 can be used in both casual and formal contexts, especially when talking about dancing or lively activities.

Jason Recommends

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