unknown, 17 strokes, radical 足, rank #58495, Very Hard
蹑
niè
to tread (on)
unknown, 17 strokes, radical 足, rank #58495, Very Hard
蹑
niè
to follow
unknown, 17 strokes, radical 足, rank #58495, Very Hard
niè(nie4) T4
1to tip-toe, to walk quietly
2to walk on tiptoe
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March 24, 2026
蹑(躡)niè(nie4)
蹑 (niè) means to walk quietly or on tiptoe, typically to avoid making noise. It is often used in contexts such as stealthy movements, like sneaking up on someone or quietly approaching a situation. The character conveys a sense of caution and subtlety in movement.
Strokes17Radical足Frequency#58495DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of tiptoeing is often associated with stealth and caution, reflecting values of respect for others' space and peace, especially in traditional family settings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a cat (the component '足' represents feet) tip-toeing across a room to not wake a sleeping baby. The '蹑' character looks like the feet of the cat, with its curved shape suggesting stealthy movement, helping you remember its meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 蹑
niè(nie4)
1to tip-toe, to walk quietly
2to walk on tiptoe
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 蹑
蹑Simplified
躡Traditional
17Strokes
足Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蹑
Podcast: 蹑
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
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AI Study Notes for 蹑
Quick Contrast
轻 (qīng, light) - use 蹑 when emphasizing stealthy movement rather than just lightness.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 蹑 with other similar-sounding words; it is specifically about quiet movement. This character is more commonly used in written language than in everyday conversation, so it may sound formal if used in casual contexts. Common collocations include 蹑手蹑脚 (to tiptoe) and 蹑声 (to move quietly).
HSK Study Tips
While 蹑 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other verbs of movement at higher levels. Focus on understanding the nuances of movement-related verbs and their contexts to enhance your fluency.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蹑 with 走 (zǒu, to walk), using it in contexts that do not imply stealth. For example, saying '我蹑到商店' (I tiptoed to the store) is incorrect; it should be '我走到商店' (I walked to the store).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蹑
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1The giveawayTo walk 足 quietly 聂; 聂 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 蹑? 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 蹑?
Decomposition of 蹑
IDS Structure⿰足聂
蹑Full Character
=
足ju4
left
聂Nie4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 蹑?
How to say to tip-toe, to walk quietly in Chinese
“to tip-toe, to walk quietly” in Chinese is蹑niè
蹑 (niè) means to walk quietly or on tiptoe, typically to avoid making noise. It is often used in contexts such as stealthy movements, like sneaking up on someone or quietly approaching a situation. The character conveys a sense of caution and subtlety in movement.
When to use 蹑
Be careful not to confuse 蹑 with other similar-sounding words; it is specifically about quiet movement. This character is more commonly used in written language than in everyday conversation, so it may sound formal if used in casual contexts. Common collocations include 蹑手蹑脚 (to tiptoe) and 蹑声 (to move quietly).
蹑 or something close to it
轻 (qīng, light) - use 蹑 when emphasizing stealthy movement rather than just lightness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 蹑 with 走 (zǒu, to walk), using it in contexts that do not imply stealth. For example, saying '我蹑到商店' (I tiptoed to the store) is incorrect; it should be '我走到商店' (I walked to the store).
Write 蹑
蹑
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Practice writing 蹑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 蹑
蹑 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
她溜下床，____手蹑脚地走到窗户旁边。
She slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the window.
Example Sentences for 蹑 (9)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
她溜下床，蹑手蹑脚地走到窗户旁边。
tā liū xià chuáng， ， niè shǒu niè jiǎo dì zǒu dào chuāng hù páng。
She slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the window.
2
为了尽量不吵醒父母，我蹑手蹑脚地上了楼。
wéi le jìn liáng bù chǎo xǐng fù mǔ， ， wǒ niè shǒu niè jiǎo dì shàng le。
I crept up the stairs, trying not to wake my parents.
3
我蹑手蹑脚地上了楼。
wǒ niè shǒu niè jiǎo dì shàng le lóu。
I sneaked up the stairs.
4
她从床上蹑手蹑脚地爬起来，摸索着自己的晨衣。
tā cóng chuáng shàng niè shǒu niè jiǎo dì pá qǐ lái， ， mō suǒ zháo zì jǐ de chén。
She crept from the bed and fumbled for her dressing gown.
