Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
轍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
轍zhétrack, rut; stuck in a rutx, 19 strokes, radical 車
zhé(zhe2)zhe T2
  1. 1track, rut; stuck in a rut
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

轍zhé(zhe2)

The character 轍 (zhé) refers primarily to a track or rut formed by wheels on a road. It can also metaphorically describe being stuck in a routine or a situation that is hard to change, reflecting a sense of stagnation or lack of progress.

Strokes19Radical車
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of being 'stuck in a rut' aligns with philosophical ideas about change and personal growth, such as those found in Daoism. The image of a wheel's track can symbolize life's path and the importance of being able to change directions.

Memory tip

Imagine a heavy cart leaving deep tracks (轍) in the mud. The character looks like wheels (the top part) leaving behind a path (the bottom part), and 'zhé' sounds like 'je' in 'jet,' which can remind you of a jet leaving a trail in the sky, but here it’s a trail on the ground.

Meanings of 轍

zhé(zhe2)
1track, rut; stuck in a rut
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 轍 means.

About 轍

轍Simplified
19Strokes
車Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 轍

JasonAmy

Podcast: 轍

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 轍

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 轍 (zhé) with similar-sounding words. It is more commonly used in written contexts and may appear in phrases relating to transport or metaphorical expressions of being stuck. Common collocations include '陷入轍中' (xiànrù zhé zhōng) meaning 'to be stuck in a rut.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 轍 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is beneficial for learners at higher levels to understand its metaphorical use. Focus on recognizing it in written texts, especially in literary or expressive contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 轍 (zhé) with other similar characters like 车 (chē) meaning 'car' or 'vehicle.' For example, saying '我在车中' (wǒ zài chē zhōng) to mean 'I am stuck in a rut' is incorrect; the correct expression is '我陷入轍中' (wǒ xiànrù zhé zhōng).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 轍

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 轍 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 轍 to you

Let me explain 轍 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 轍 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How well do you know 轍?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 轍 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 轍

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

cart

Semantic (meaning)車
+
Phonetic (sound)徹
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

轍 = 車 + 徹. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 轍

IDS Structure⿲車育攵
轍Full character
=
車che1
left
育yu4
middle
攵pu1
right
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 轍?

How to say track, rut; stuck in a rut in Chinese

“track, rut; stuck in a rut” in Chinese is轍zhé

The character 轍 (zhé) refers primarily to a track or rut formed by wheels on a road. It can also metaphorically describe being stuck in a routine or a situation that is hard to change, reflecting a sense of stagnation or lack of progress.

When to use 轍

Be careful not to confuse 轍 (zhé) with similar-sounding words. It is more commonly used in written contexts and may appear in phrases relating to transport or metaphorical expressions of being stuck. Common collocations include '陷入轍中' (xiànrù zhé zhōng) meaning 'to be stuck in a rut.'

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 轍 (zhé) with other similar characters like 车 (chē) meaning 'car' or 'vehicle.' For example, saying '我在车中' (wǒ zài chē zhōng) to mean 'I am stuck in a rut' is incorrect; the correct expression is '我陷入轍中' (wǒ xiànrù zhé zhōng).

Write 轍

轍

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 轍?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 轍

Words containing this character12
重蹈覆辙to repeat a disastrous policy重蹈覆轍
没辙méizhéat one's wit's end沒轍
辙chèrut轍
如出一辙to be precisely the same如出一轍
覆辙disastrous policy覆轍
南辕北辙nányuánběizhéto act in a way that defeats one's purpose (idiom)南轅北轍
车辙track車轍
改弦易辙to dance to a different tune改弦易轍
合辙rhyming合轍
找辙to look for a pretext找轍
涸辙之鲋fig. a person in dire straits涸轍之鮒
故辙rut (made by vehicles)故轍
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 轍

What does 重蹈覆辙 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 轍

Common phrases include '陷入轍中' (xiànrù zhé zhōng) meaning 'to be stuck in a rut' and '车轍' (chēzhé) meaning 'wheel tracks.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 轍?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab