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蹑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
蹑
niè
to tip-toe, to walk quietly
z, 17 strokes, radical 足, rank #58495, Very Hard
蹑
niè
to walk on tiptoe
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)nie 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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 蹑 means.
About 蹑
蹑Simplified
躡Traditional
17Strokes
足Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蹑
Podcast: 蹑
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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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Knowing 蹑 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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)
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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 chuānghu pángbiān。
