Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
靴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
靴xuēbootsn, 13 strokes, radical 革, rank #8130, Very Hard
xuē(xue1)xue T1
  1. 1boots
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

靴xuē(xue1)

靴 (xuē) refers specifically to boots, which are a type of footwear that covers the foot and often extends up the leg. This term is commonly used in both casual and formal contexts when discussing various styles of boots, from fashion boots to work boots.

Strokes13Radical革Frequency#8130DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, different styles of 靴 are often associated with specific seasons, such as warm, insulated boots for winter. Fashion trends in boots can also reflect regional styles and preferences in China.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'shoe' that has 'legs'—靴 looks like a shoe with added height, resembling a tall boot. The 'xu' in xuē can remind you of 'shoe,' while the 'ē' can be associated with 'elevation' or 'height.'

Meanings of 靴

xuē(xue1)
1boots
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 靴 means.

About 靴

靴Simplified
13Strokes
革Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 靴

JasonAmy

Podcast: 靴

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 靴

Quick Contrast

靴 (boots) vs 鞋 (shoes) — choose 靴 when referring specifically to boots that cover the ankle or higher.

Usage Notes

When using 靴, be aware that it is typically used in a formal context compared to the more general term 鞋 (xié) for shoes. A common mistake is confusing 靴 with 鞋; remember that 靴 refers specifically to boots, not all footwear.

HSK Study Tips

靴 is not currently included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but it connects well with other footwear-related words like 鞋 (xié) and 布鞋 (bùxié, cloth shoes). Students should focus on the context of clothing and accessories when learning this word.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 靴 when they mean shoes in general. For example, saying '我买了一双靴' (I bought a pair of boots) when they actually meant '鞋' (shoes) is incorrect. The correct sentence would be '我买了一双鞋.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 靴

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 靴 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 靴 to you

Let me explain 靴 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 靴 through them.

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

How well do you know 靴?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 靴 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 靴

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

Phonosemantic compound. 革 represents the meaning and 化 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鞾.

Memory hint

leather

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

Origin

靴 = 革 + 化. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 靴

IDS Structure⿰革化
靴Full character
=
革ge2
left
化hua1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 靴?

How to say boots in Chinese

“boots” in Chinese is靴xuē

靴 (xuē) refers specifically to boots, which are a type of footwear that covers the foot and often extends up the leg. This term is commonly used in both casual and formal contexts when discussing various styles of boots, from fashion boots to work boots.

When to use 靴

When using 靴, be aware that it is typically used in a formal context compared to the more general term 鞋 (xié) for shoes. A common mistake is confusing 靴 with 鞋; remember that 靴 refers specifically to boots, not all footwear.

靴 or something close to it

靴 (boots) vs 鞋 (shoes) — choose 靴 when referring specifically to boots that cover the ankle or higher.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 靴 when they mean shoes in general. For example, saying '我买了一双靴' (I bought a pair of boots) when they actually meant '鞋' (shoes) is incorrect. The correct sentence would be '我买了一双鞋.'

Write 靴

靴

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar patterns of 靴

靴 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

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

我的双手、____子和裤子上都沾满了泥巴。

My hands, boots and trousers were plastered with mud.

Example sentences for 靴 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我的双手、靴子和裤子上都沾满了泥巴。

wǒ de shuāngshǒu、 xuēzi hé kùzi shàng dōu zhān mǎn le ní Bā。

My hands, boots and trousers were plastered with mud.
2
脚蹬帅气钉靴的足球运动员走进了球场。

jiǎo dēng shuài qì dìng xuē de zúqiú yùndòngyuán zǒujìn le qiúchǎng。

Footballers in whopping great studded boots walk over the pitch.
3
滑雪板、滑雪靴和滑雪服皆有出租。

huáxuě bǎn、 huáxuě xuē hé huáxuě fú jiē yǒu chūzū。

Hire of skis, boots and clothing, is all available.
4
在挑选长筒靴的时候,购买上等的好皮靴将是明智的选择。

zài tiāoxuǎn cháng tǒng xuē de shíhou, gòumǎi shàng děng de hǎo pí xuē jiāng shì míngzhì de xuǎnzé。

When selecting boots, fine, quality leather will be a wise investment.
5
要把马练好,缰绳靴刺不可少.

yào bǎ mǎ liàn hǎo, jiāng shéng xuē cì bù kě shǎo.

It is the bridle and spur that makes a good horse.
6
他那双黑色高筒靴被擦得光鉴照人。

tā nà shuāng hēisè gāo tǒng xuē bèi cā de guāng jiàn zhào rén。

His high black boots had been shined to a gleaming finish.
7
他坐下来脱掉那沾满泥的靴子。

tā zuòxia lái tuō diào nà zhān mǎn ní de xuēzi。

He sat down to remove his mud-crusted boots.
8
球员可以给烤菜豆做广告,但不能代言橄榄球靴。

qiúyuán kěyǐ gěi kǎo cài dòu zuò guǎnggào, dàn bù néng dàiyán gǎn lǎn qiú xuē。

The players can advertise baked beans, but not rugby boots.
9
他穿着衬衫和黑裤子,脚蹬皮靴,看上去很帅气。

tā chuānzhuó chènshān hé hēi kùzi, jiǎo dēng pí xuē, kànshangqu hěnshuài qì。

He was smartly dressed in a shirt, dark trousers and boots.
10
门厅里到处乱扔着玩具和雨靴。

mén tīng lǐ dàochù luàn rēng zhe wánjù hé yǔ xuē。

The entrance hall is littered with toys and wellington boots.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 靴?

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.

Cultural Notes for 靴

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, boots are often more associated with fashion, while in China, they can have practical as well as fashion-related connotations, especially during seasonal changes.

Word Family of 靴

Words containing this character5
靴xuēboots
靴子xuēziboots
雨靴rain boots
马靴riding boots馬靴
隔靴搔痒ineffectual隔靴搔癢
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 靴

What does 靴子 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 靴

靴 can refer to various types of boots, including ankle boots, knee-high boots, and winter boots.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 靴?

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