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脚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
脚jiǎofootHSK 3, n, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #813, Medium
脚jiǎoleg (of an animal or an object)HSK 3, n, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #813, Medium
脚jiǎoroleHSK 3, n, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #813, Medium
脚jiǎobase (of an object)HSK 3, n, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #813, Medium
脚jiǎoclassifier for kicksHSK 3, n, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #813, Medium
脚jiǎoleg, foot; foundation, baseHSK 3, n, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #813, Medium
脚juéfootHSK 3, n, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #813, Medium
脚juéleg (of an animal or an object)HSK 3, n, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #813, Medium
脚juéroleHSK 3, n, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #813, Medium
脚juébase (of an object)HSK 3, n, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #813, Medium
脚juéclassifier for kicksHSK 3, n, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #813, Medium
脚juéleg, foot; foundation, baseHSK 3, n, 11 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #813, Medium
jiǎo(jiao3)
primary
 T3
  1. 1foot
  2. 2leg (of an animal or an object)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

脚(腳)jiǎo(jiao3)

脚 (jiǎo) primarily means 'foot' and can refer to the feet of humans or animals. It can also denote the base of objects, such as furniture, or a role in a group. The character is often used in various contexts, including sports and everyday discussions about movement or support.

Strokes11Radical⺼Frequency#813DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of feet is often associated with traditional practices such as foot massage and acupressure, which are believed to promote health and well-being. Footwear, especially in urban areas, has cultural significance reflecting personal style and social status.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant foot (脚) standing on a 'jiao' (sounds like 'jiǎo') of a mountain. The foot supports the entire mountain, just like a foundation supports a building. The character itself has a foot radical (足), representing its meaning.

Meanings of 脚

jiǎo(jiao3)
primary
1foot
2leg (of an animal or an object)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 脚

脚Simplified
腳Traditional
11Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#813Frequency Rank
双Measure Word
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 脚

JasonAmy

Podcast: 脚

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 脚

Quick Contrast

脚 (jiǎo) vs 足 (zú) — use 脚 for physical feet and 足 for the concept of sufficiency or completeness.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with tone when pronouncing '脚' as 'jiǎo' to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words. This word can be used in both formal and informal contexts, such as in health discussions or while talking about sports. Common collocations include '脚痛' (foot pain) and '脚步' (footsteps).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 3 word, '脚' connects well with other body-related vocabulary like '手' (hand) and '头' (head). Students should focus on using it in phrases and contexts to reinforce its meaning and improve fluency.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 脚 (jiǎo) with 角 (jué) due to their similar pronunciations and spelling. For example, saying '我的角疼' instead of '我的脚疼' (My foot hurts) is incorrect; remember that '脚' refers to the foot.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 脚

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Etymology of 脚

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

Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 却 represents the sound. Simplified form of 腳.

Memory Hint

flesh

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 脚

Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 却 represents the sound. Simplified form of 腳.

  1. 1The meaning half⺼ carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half却 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayflesh
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 脚? 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 脚?

Decomposition of 脚

IDS Structure⿰⺼却
脚Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
却que4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 脚?

How to say foot in Chinese

“foot” in Chinese is脚jiǎo

脚 (jiǎo) primarily means 'foot' and can refer to the feet of humans or animals. It can also denote the base of objects, such as furniture, or a role in a group. The character is often used in various contexts, including sports and everyday discussions about movement or support.

When to use 脚

Be cautious with tone when pronouncing '脚' as 'jiǎo' to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words. This word can be used in both formal and informal contexts, such as in health discussions or while talking about sports. Common collocations include '脚痛' (foot pain) and '脚步' (footsteps).

脚 or something close to it

脚 (jiǎo) vs 足 (zú) — use 脚 for physical feet and 足 for the concept of sufficiency or completeness.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 脚 (jiǎo) with 角 (jué) due to their similar pronunciations and spelling. For example, saying '我的角疼' instead of '我的脚疼' (My foot hurts) is incorrect; remember that '脚' refers to the foot.

Write 脚

脚

Practice writing 脚 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 脚

脚 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). It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

他花钱大手大____的，很快就把钱花完了。

He spends money extravagantly and quickly used it all up.

Common Confusions with 脚

脚vs角
jué

Similar sound and shape, but different meanings.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "foot"?

or

Usage Notes for 脚

Confusing 脚 with other body partsCommon Error

Learners often confuse 脚 (foot) with other body parts like 手 (hand).

1

我用脚踢球。

I kick the ball with my foot.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

我用____踢球。

I kick the ball with my foot.

Example Sentences for 脚 (11)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
nfoot10
1
它猛地朝我的脚脖子咬下去，牙齿还咔咔直响。

tā měng dì zhāo wǒ de jiǎo bó zǐ yǎo xià qù， ， yá chǐ huán kǎ kǎ zhí。

His teeth clicked as he snapped at my ankle.
2
我发现脚下的水只有3英尺深。

wǒ fā xiàn jiǎo xià de shuǐ zhī yǒu3 3 yīng chǐ。

I found myself in water only three feet deep.
3
我停住脚步，等她追上来。

wǒ tíng zhù jiǎo bù， ， děng tā zhuī shàng。

I stopped and waited for her to catch up.
4
我笨手笨脚的，总挨训。

wǒ bèn shǒu bèn jiǎo de， ， zǒng āi。

I'm always being told off for being so awkward.
5
蛇蜥其实不是蛇，而是无脚的蜥蜴。

shé xī qí shí bù shì shé， ， ér shì wú jiǎo de xī。

The slow-worm is in fact not a snake but a legless lizard.
6
球直接落到了克林斯曼的脚上。

qiú zhí jiē luò dào le kè lín sī màn de jiǎo shàng。

The ball fell straight to the feet of Klinsmann.
7
他因摔倒而严重扭伤了脚踝。

tā yīn shuāi dǎo ér yán zhòng niǔ shāng le jiǎo huái。

He had wrenched his ankle badly from the force of the fall.
8
脚蹬帅气钉靴的足球运动员走进了球场。

jiǎo dēng shuài qì dīng xuē de zú qiú yùn dòng yuán zǒu jìn le qiú cháng。

Footballers in whopping great studded boots walk over the pitch.
9
这位30岁的苏格兰国脚因和边裁争执而被罚下场。

zhè wèi30 30 suì de sū gé lán guó jiǎo yīn hé biān cái zhēng zhí ér bèi fá xià。

The 30-year-old Scottish international was sent off for arguing with a linesman.
10
一脚蹬比系带鞋容易穿。

yī jiǎo dēng bǐ xì dài xié róng yì chuān。

Slip-on shoes are easier to put on than lace-ups.
nleg (of an animal or an object)1
11
在这部电影中，他扮演了一个重要的脚色，给观众留下了深刻的印象。

Zài zhè bù diànyǐng zhōng, tā bànyǎnle yīgè zhòngyào de jiǎosè, gěi guānzhòng liúxiàle shēnkè de yìnxiàng.

In this movie, he played an important role that left a deep impression on the audience.

Cultural Notes for 脚

💡Did you know?

在中国，脚被认为是一个非常重要的身体部位。很多传统中，脚部护理被视为健康的关键，例如足浴和足疗，在一些城市非常流行。

📜Proverb

‘千里之行，始于足下’是一句著名的中国谚语，意思是伟大的旅程始于第一步，强调了脚的重要性。

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, feet are often seen merely as functional body parts, while in Chinese culture, they can be a part of wellness practices and are associated with personal care and health.

Word Family of 脚

Words Containing This Character20
脚jiǎofoot腳
脚步jiǎobùfootstep腳步
手脚shǒujiǎohand and foot手腳
脚趾toe腳趾
脚踝ankle腳踝
脚印jiǎoyìnfootprint腳印
脚下under the foot腳下
双脚two legs雙腳
大脚long kick (soccer)大腳
蹩脚inferior蹩腳
脚尖the extremity of the foot腳尖
指手画脚zhǐshǒuhuàjiǎoto gesticulate while talking (idiom)指手畫腳
脚底soles of the feet腳底
赶脚to work as a carter or porter趕腳
脚踏实地steady and serious character腳踏實地
脚跟heel腳跟
山脚foot of a mountain山腳
拳脚Chinese boxing拳腳
落脚to stop over落腳
小脚bound feet (traditional)小腳
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 脚 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 脚

Yes, 脚 (jiǎo) can refer to the legs of animals or objects, and it can also describe the base of certain items. Additionally, it serves as a classifier for kicks in sports.

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