Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
蹌qiāng(qiang1)
The character 蹌 (qiāng) refers to the action of staggering or stumbling, typically while walking. It conveys a sense of unsteadiness and is often used to describe someone who is struggling to maintain their balance, either physically or metaphorically.
Strokes17Radical足Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of balance is vital, both physically and symbolically. Stumbling or staggering can be seen as a metaphor for life's challenges, reflecting the importance of perseverance in the face of difficulties.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person trying to walk on a tightrope, but they keep losing their balance and staggering sideways. The character 蹌 has the foot radical (足) at the bottom, hinting at movement or walking, while the top part looks like a person wobbling, which helps you remember the meaning of staggering.
Meanings of 蹌
qiāng(qiang1)
1to stagger, to stumble
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 蹌
蹌Simplified
17Strokes
足Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蹌
Podcast: 蹌
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 蹌
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person trying to walk on a tightrope, but they keep losing their balance and staggering sideways. The character 蹌 has the foot radical (足) at the bottom, hinting at movement or walking, while the top part looks like a person wobbling, which helps you remember the meaning of staggering.
Usage Notes
This character is often used in literary or descriptive contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; 蹌 is specifically about the action of stumbling. Common collocations include 蹌跄 (qiāngqiàng), which means to stagger.
HSK Study Tips
While 蹌 is not included in the HSK levels, understanding it can enhance your vocabulary around movement and actions. It connects with other words related to walking and balance. Focus on the radicals to help remember its meaning.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of balance is vital, both physically and symbolically. Stumbling or staggering can be seen as a metaphor for life's challenges, reflecting the importance of perseverance in the face of difficulties.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蹌 with similar characters like 跌 (diē) which means 'to fall'. For example, saying '我蹌倒了' (wǒ qiāng dǎo le) instead of '我跌倒了' (wǒ diē dǎo le) can lead to incorrect usage since 蹌 focuses on staggering rather than falling.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蹌
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 蹌 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 蹌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 蹌
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of balance is vital, both physically and symbolically. Stumbling or staggering can be seen as a metaphor for life's challenges, reflecting the importance of perseverance in the face of difficulties.
Word Family of 蹌
Words Containing This Character3
踉跄to stagger踉蹌
跄qiāngstagger蹌
跄踉to stagger蹌踉
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 踉跄 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 蹌
The pinyin for 蹌 is qiāng, with a first tone that is high and level.
It's more commonly found in literary contexts, so it's less likely to be used in casual speech.
蹌 refers to stumbling or staggering, while 跌 (diē) means to fall. They both describe loss of balance but in different ways.
