HSK 3, n, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #840, Medium
腿
tuǐ
hip bone
HSK 3, n, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #840, Medium
腿
tuǐ
legs, thighs
HSK 3, n, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #840, Medium
腿
tuǐ
old variant of 腿[tuǐ]
HSK 3, n, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #840, Medium
腿
tuǐ
old variant of 腿[tui3]
HSK 3, unknown, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #840, Medium
tuǐ(tui3) T3
1leg
2hip bone
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March 24, 2026
腿tuǐ(tui3)
The character 腿 (tuǐ) refers primarily to the leg, including the thigh and lower leg. It is commonly used in both medical and everyday contexts to describe physical anatomy and can also refer to the hip bone. In idiomatic expressions, it can also connote aspects of movement or support.
Strokes13Radical⺼Frequency#840DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the legs are seen as vital for movement and balance, reflecting one's overall health. There's also a cultural significance in martial arts, where leg strength is essential for balance and agility.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'twin' (tuǐ sounds like 'twin') with one leg stronger than the other. The character 腿 is made up of '肉' (meat) which suggests the fleshiness of legs, plus '圭' (a small stone), symbolizing the hard support of bones. Visualize a twin trying to balance on one strong leg while the other wobbles.
Meanings of 腿
tuǐ(tui3)
1leg
2hip bone
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 腿
腿Simplified
13Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#840Frequency Rank
条Measure Word
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 腿
Podcast: 腿
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AI Study Notes for 腿
Quick Contrast
膝 (xī) - use 腿 (tuǐ) when referring to the entire leg, while 膝 (xī) specifically denotes the knee.
Usage Notes
When using 腿, remember that it is often paired with verbs related to movement like 走 (zǒu - to walk) or 跑 (pǎo - to run). Be cautious with tone; mispronouncing it as 'tui' can confuse listeners. In more formal contexts, you might encounter the term in medical discussions.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 腿 connects to other body parts like 手 (shǒu - hand) and 头 (tóu - head), helping learners build vocabulary related to anatomy. Focus on pronunciation and the usage of collocations in sentences.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 腿 (tuǐ) with 手 (shǒu - hand), leading to incorrect phrases like '我的手很长' (My leg is long) instead of '我的腿很长'. Additionally, be careful not to drop the tone; saying 'tui' can change the meaning entirely.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 腿
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Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 退 represents the sound.
1The giveawayFlesh ⺼ used to walk 退; 退 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 腿? 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 腿?
Decomposition of 腿
IDS Structure⿰⺼退
腿Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
退tui4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 腿?
How to say leg in Chinese
“leg” in Chinese is腿tuǐ
The character 腿 (tuǐ) refers primarily to the leg, including the thigh and lower leg. It is commonly used in both medical and everyday contexts to describe physical anatomy and can also refer to the hip bone. In idiomatic expressions, it can also connote aspects of movement or support.
When to use 腿
When using 腿, remember that it is often paired with verbs related to movement like 走 (zǒu - to walk) or 跑 (pǎo - to run). Be cautious with tone; mispronouncing it as 'tui' can confuse listeners. In more formal contexts, you might encounter the term in medical discussions.
腿 or something close to it
膝 (xī) - use 腿 (tuǐ) when referring to the entire leg, while 膝 (xī) specifically denotes the knee.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 腿 (tuǐ) with 手 (shǒu - hand), leading to incorrect phrases like '我的手很长' (My leg is long) instead of '我的腿很长'. Additionally, be careful not to drop the tone; saying 'tui' can change the meaning entirely.
Write 腿
腿
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Practice writing 腿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 腿
腿 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 5 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
你屁股和大____上的肿块怎么还不消下去？
Why won't those bulges on your hips and thighs go?
Common Confusions with 腿
腿vs退
tuì
Similar pronunciation but different meaning
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "leg"?
or
Example Sentences for 腿 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
你屁股和大腿上的肿块怎么还不消下去？
nǐ pì gǔ hé dà tuǐ shàng de zhǒng kuài zěn mó huán bù xiāo xià qù？
Why won't those bulges on your hips and thighs go?
Common phrases with 腿 include '腿部' (tuǐ bù), meaning 'leg part,' and '腿长' (tuǐ zhǎng), meaning 'long legs.' These phrases can help you expand your vocabulary related to legs and physical descriptions.
腿 (tuǐ) is classified as a noun in Chinese. It is often used with the measure word 条 (tiáo) when counting legs or similar objects, indicating its common usage in the language.
腿 (tuǐ) means 'leg' in Chinese. It can refer to the limb used for walking or standing. Additionally, 腿 is also an old variant of the character 腿 and can refer to the hip bone in some contexts.
You can use 腿 (tuǐ) in sentences to describe actions or conditions related to legs. For example, '我疼我的腿' (Wǒ téng wǒ de tuǐ) means 'My leg hurts.' This demonstrates how to incorporate the word into everyday conversation.
In Mandarin, nouns do not change form for plurals, so 腿 can refer to one leg or multiple legs depending on context.
Yes, while it primarily means 'leg', it can also refer to parts of some animals or be used metaphorically in expressions.
Yes, 腿 is appropriate in both informal and formal contexts, especially in medical or anatomical discussions.
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