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逡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
逡qūnto withdraw, to retreat, to fall backzg, 10 strokes, radical 辶, rank #38864, Very Hard
逡qūnto shrink back (from sth)unknown, 10 strokes, radical 辶, rank #38864, Very Hard
qūn(qun1) T1
  1. 1to withdraw, to retreat, to fall back
  2. 2to shrink back (from sth)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

逡qūn(qun1)

The character 逡 (qūn) refers to the action of withdrawing or retreating, often in a physical or metaphorical sense. It can imply pulling back from a situation or shrinking away from something daunting or uncomfortable. This word is typically used in literary or formal contexts rather than in everyday conversation.

Strokes10Radical辶Frequency#38864DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese literature and philosophy, the concept of retreating or withdrawing is often seen as a strategic move, reflecting the idea of yielding to gain an advantage, which can be related to principles found in texts like the Dao De Jing.

Memory Tip

Imagine a snail slowly withdrawing into its shell when it feels threatened. The character 逡 has the '走' radical (to walk) on the left, suggesting movement away, and the right part can remind you of a shell. Connect the sound 'qūn' to 'cocoon,' as both involve retreating for safety.

Meanings of 逡

qūn(qun1)
1to withdraw, to retreat, to fall back
2to shrink back (from sth)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 逡

逡Simplified
10Strokes
辶Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 逡

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Podcast: 逡

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AI Study Notes for 逡

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 逡 with similar characters like 退 (tuì), which also means to retreat but is more commonly used. 逡 is more formal and may appear in literary texts or idiomatic expressions. Pay attention to the tone; using a different tone can alter the meaning significantly.

HSK Study Tips

Although 逡 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your reading of classical Chinese literature. Focus on its usage in conjunction with other verbs of movement or withdrawal to grasp subtleties in meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 逡 in casual contexts where 退 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我想逡回去' (I want to retreat back) instead of '我想退回去' can sound overly formal.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 逡

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Etymology of 逡

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

walk

Semantic (meaning)辶
+
Phonetic (sound)夋
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 逡

  1. 1The meaning half辶 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half夋 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywalk
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 逡? 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 逡?

Decomposition of 逡

IDS Structure⿺辶夋
逡Full Character
=
辶chuo4
enclosing
夋qun1
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 逡?

How to say to withdraw, to retreat, to fall back in Chinese

“to withdraw, to retreat, to fall back” in Chinese is逡qūn

The character 逡 (qūn) refers to the action of withdrawing or retreating, often in a physical or metaphorical sense. It can imply pulling back from a situation or shrinking away from something daunting or uncomfortable. This word is typically used in literary or formal contexts rather than in everyday conversation.

When to use 逡

Learners often confuse 逡 with similar characters like 退 (tuì), which also means to retreat but is more commonly used. 逡 is more formal and may appear in literary texts or idiomatic expressions. Pay attention to the tone; using a different tone can alter the meaning significantly.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use 逡 in casual contexts where 退 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我想逡回去' (I want to retreat back) instead of '我想退回去' can sound overly formal.

Write 逡

逡

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 逡

Words Containing This Character3
逡qūnto shrink back (from sth)
逡巡to draw back
逡巡不前to balk
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 逡 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 逡

No, 逡 is more often found in literary or formal contexts rather than in everyday language.

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