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踏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
踏tāto treadHSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 足, rank #3288, Very Hard
踏tāto stampHSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 足, rank #3288, Very Hard
踏tāto step onHSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 足, rank #3288, Very Hard
踏tāto press a pedalHSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 足, rank #3288, Very Hard
踏tāto investigate on the spotHSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 足, rank #3288, Very Hard
踏tāto trample, to tread on, to walk overHSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 足, rank #3288, Very Hard
踏tàto treadHSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 足, rank #3288, Very Hard
踏tàto stampHSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 足, rank #3288, Very Hard
踏tàto step onHSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 足, rank #3288, Very Hard
踏tàto press a pedalHSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 足, rank #3288, Very Hard
踏tàto investigate on the spotHSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 足, rank #3288, Very Hard
踏tàto trample, to tread on, to walk overHSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 足, rank #3288, Very Hard
tà(ta4)
primary
T4
  1. 1to tread
  2. 2to stamp
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

踏tà(ta4)

The character 踏 (tā) primarily means to tread or step on something. It is often used in contexts that involve physical actions such as walking, pressing a pedal, or stamping down. Additionally, it can imply a sense of investigation or thoroughness, as in exploring a situation directly.

Strokes15Radical足Frequency#3288DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the act of treading or stepping on something can symbolize taking action or making a decisive move in life, reflecting the importance of being proactive in both personal and professional contexts.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person stepping firmly on a soft ground with their foot, making a clear imprint – this is 踏 (tā). The character combines the foot radical 足 (zú), representing action with the base of the character, suggesting movement or pressure.

Meanings of 踏

tà(ta4)
primary
1to tread
2to stamp
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 踏

踏Simplified
15Strokes
足Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3288Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3BCT✓CEFRC1

Podcast: 踏

JasonAmy

Podcast: 踏

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AI Study Notes for 踏

Quick Contrast

踏 (tà) vs 踏上 (tà shàng) — use 踏 for general stepping or treading actions, while 踏上 specifically implies stepping onto something.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 踏 with similar characters like 步 (bù, step) or 跑 (pǎo, run), which have different nuances. 踏 is more direct and often involves pressing down, while the others describe different types of movement. It's used in both formal and informal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Though 踏 is not listed in HSK levels, it connects with basic verbs related to movement and action. Students should focus on its application in compound words and phrases, such as 踏实 (tā shí), which conveys a sense of reliability or groundedness.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 踏 with 踏实 (tā shí) and use them interchangeably, but 踏 alone does not convey the same sense of reliability. For example, saying '我踏实这件事' (I tread on this matter) is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我踏实地做这件事' (I do this matter reliably).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 踏

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Etymology of 踏

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

foot

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 踏

  1. 1The meaning half足 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half沓 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 踏? 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 踏?

Decomposition of 踏

IDS Structure⿰足沓
踏Full Character
=
足ju4
left
沓da2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 踏?

How to say to tread in Chinese

“to tread” in Chinese is踏tā

The character 踏 (tā) primarily means to tread or step on something. It is often used in contexts that involve physical actions such as walking, pressing a pedal, or stamping down. Additionally, it can imply a sense of investigation or thoroughness, as in exploring a situation directly.

When to use 踏

Common mistakes include confusing 踏 with similar characters like 步 (bù, step) or 跑 (pǎo, run), which have different nuances. 踏 is more direct and often involves pressing down, while the others describe different types of movement. It's used in both formal and informal contexts.

踏 or something close to it

踏 (tà) vs 踏上 (tà shàng) — use 踏 for general stepping or treading actions, while 踏上 specifically implies stepping onto something.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 踏 with 踏实 (tā shí) and use them interchangeably, but 踏 alone does not convey the same sense of reliability. For example, saying '我踏实这件事' (I tread on this matter) is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我踏实地做这件事' (I do this matter reliably).

Write 踏

踏

Practice writing 踏 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 踏

踏 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 6 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

Complete the Sentence

她准备好____上返家之程了。

She is ready for her homeward journey.

Example Sentences for 踏 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
她准备好踏上返家之程了。

tā zhǔn bèi hǎo tà shàng fǎn jiā zhī chéng le。

She is ready for her homeward journey.
2
格洛丽亚也许是我见过的最脚踏实地的人了。

gé luò lì yà yě xǔ shì wǒ jiàn guò de zuì jiǎo tà shí dì de rén le。

Gloria is probably the most down to earth personI've ever met.
3
他是个不惜利用他人成就作踏脚石的人。

tā shì gè bù xī lì yòng tā rén chéng jiù zuò tà jiǎo shí de rén。

He was a man who traded on the achievements of others.
4
人群争先恐后地奔逃,很多人被压伤或踩踏。

rén qún zhēng xiān kǒng hòu dì bēn táo, , hěn duō rén bèi yā shāng huò cǎi。

The crowd stampeded and many were crushed or trampled underfoot.
5
如果带着闹钟让你感到心里踏实,那就值得携带。

rú guǒ dài zháo nào zhōng ràng nǐ gǎn dào xīn lǐ tà shí, , nà jiù zhí dé xié。

If an alarm gives you that feeling of security, then it'sworth carrying.
6
你的脚离开踏板,汽车便会熄火。

nǐ de jiǎo lí kāi tà bǎn, , qì chē biàn huì xī。

Your foot falls off the pedal and you stall the car.
7
我挤出人群,踏上了自动扶梯。

wǒ jǐ chū rén qún, , tà shàng le zì dòng fú。

I pushed through the crowds and on to the escalator.
8
我们很不愿意踏上如此漫长艰辛的回家之路。

wǒ mén hěn bù yuàn yì tà shàng rú cǐ màn cháng jiān xīn de huí jiā zhī lù。

We were reluctant to start the long trudge home.
9
他关上门,踏上了1/4英里长的下山路.

tā guān shàng mén, , tà shàng1/4 le 1/4 yīng lǐ cháng de xià.

He closed his door and started the quarter-mile walk down the hill.
10
再一次踏上陆地我们很高兴。

zài yī cì tà shàng lù dì wǒ mén hěn gāo xīng。

We were glad to be on dry land again.

Word Family of 踏

Words Containing This Character20
踏tàto tread
踏实tāshisteady踏實
践踏jiàntàto trample踐踏
踢踏舞tap dance
踏板treadle
脚踏实地steady and serious character腳踏實地
脚踏车bicycle腳踏車
踏踏实实steady踏踏實實
踏步stride
大踏步in big strides
踩踏to trample on
踏足to tread
踏进to set foot in踏進
踏青spring hike season around Qingming festival 清明, 4th-6th April
踏上tàshàngto set foot on
踏雪to go for a walk in the snow
踏勘to go and inspect (a site)
糟踏to waste
踏访to interview people on the spot踏訪
踏歌to sing and dance
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 踏 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 踏

Common phrases include 踏实 (tā shí), meaning to be grounded or reliable, and 踏上 (tā shàng), meaning to step onto or embark upon.

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