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蹴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蹴cùto leap; to kick; solemng, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #73557, Very Hard
蹴cùcarefullyunknown, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #73557, Very Hard
蹴cùto tread onunknown, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #73557, Very Hard
蹴cùto stampunknown, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #73557, Very Hard
cù(cu4)cu T4
  1. 1to leap; to kick; solemn
  2. 2carefully
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March 24, 2026

蹴cù(cu4)

The character 蹴 (cù) primarily means 'to kick' or 'to leap.' It conveys a sense of forceful movement, often associated with kicking or stamping motions. This term can also imply carefulness or solemnity in certain contexts, making it versatile in describing physical actions or attitudes.

Strokes19Radical足Frequency#73557DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

蹴 is often seen in traditional Chinese sports and games, particularly in references to football (soccer), where the act of kicking is central. This reflects the importance of physical activities in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a kangaroo (which leaps) kicking off the ground with its powerful legs. The left side of 蹴 (走) suggests 'to walk' or 'to move,' while the right side (月) relates to 'flesh' or 'body,' reinforcing the physicality of the action.

Meanings of 蹴

cù(cu4)
1to leap; to kick; solemn
2carefully
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 蹴 means.

About 蹴

蹴Simplified
19Strokes
足Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蹴

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Podcast: 蹴

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AI study notes for 蹴

Quick Contrast

踢 (tī) — use 蹴 (cù) for a more forceful or solemn action compared to the more general kicking implied by 踢 (tī).

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 蹴 with similar characters like 踏 (tà), which means 'to step on' but has a softer connotation. Use 蹴 in more dynamic contexts, often in sports or vigorous movement, and avoid using it in overly formal settings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蹴 is not in the official HSK list, it is beneficial for learners at HSK 4 and above to understand it as it connects with other action verbs. Students should focus on the context in which physical actions are described and practice using it in sentences with other movement-related verbs.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly write 蹴 with the wrong radicals, like using 足 (foot) incorrectly instead of walking components. Remember, 蹴 emphasizes dynamic action, so context matters.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蹴

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Etymology of 蹴

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

To approach 就 in one leap 足; 足 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 蹴?

Decomposition of 蹴

IDS Structure⿰足就
蹴Full character
=
足ju4
left
就jiu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蹴?

How to say to leap; to kick; solemn in Chinese

“to leap; to kick; solemn” in Chinese is蹴cù

The character 蹴 (cù) primarily means 'to kick' or 'to leap.' It conveys a sense of forceful movement, often associated with kicking or stamping motions. This term can also imply carefulness or solemnity in certain contexts, making it versatile in describing physical actions or attitudes.

When to use 蹴

Common mistakes include confusing 蹴 with similar characters like 踏 (tà), which means 'to step on' but has a softer connotation. Use 蹴 in more dynamic contexts, often in sports or vigorous movement, and avoid using it in overly formal settings.

蹴 or something close to it

踢 (tī) — use 蹴 (cù) for a more forceful or solemn action compared to the more general kicking implied by 踢 (tī).

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly write 蹴 with the wrong radicals, like using 足 (foot) incorrectly instead of walking components. Remember, 蹴 emphasizes dynamic action, so context matters.

Write 蹴

蹴

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

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Grammar patterns of 蹴

蹴 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 3

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他很现实,知道自己的成功不会一____而就。

He's realistic enough to know he's not going to succeed overnight.

Example sentences for 蹴 (2)

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1
他很现实,知道自己的成功不会一蹴而就。

tā hěn xiànshí, zhīdào zìjǐ de chénggōng bù huì yīcùérjiù。

He's realistic enough to know he's not going to succeed overnight.
2
金绣衣襦, 香囊结带, 双双对蹴.

jīn xiù yī rú, xiāng náng jié dài, shuāng shuāng duì cù.

Golden Xiuyi jacket , Sachet Ribbon , both pairs of instant success.

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Word Family of 蹴

Words containing this character3
一蹴而就success at a stroke
蹴cùcarefully
一蹴可几easy as pie一蹴可幾
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 蹴

What does 一蹴而就 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 蹴

Some phrases include 蹴球 (kicking a ball) or 蹴踏 (to stamp or tread), which highlight different contexts of movement.

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