HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #9788, Very Hard
坠
zhuì
to drop
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #9788, Very Hard
坠
zhuì
to weigh down
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #9788, Very Hard
坠
zhuì
to drop, to fall down, to sink; heavy; weight
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #9788, Very Hard
zhuì(zhui4) T4
1to fall
2to drop
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March 24, 2026
坠(墜)zhuì(zhui4)
The character 坠 (zhuì) primarily means 'to fall' or 'to drop,' often used to describe physical descent or a decline in status or condition. It can also convey the idea of being burdened or weighed down, both literally and metaphorically, making it versatile in various contexts.
Strokes7Radical土Frequency#9788DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of falling can symbolize loss or decline, such as in literature where a character might 'fall from grace.' This reflects societal values around status and honor.
Memory Tip
Imagine a heavy weight (the component '土' meaning 'earth') dropping down from a height, creating a thud as it hits the ground. This imagery connects the idea of falling with the weight that the character 坠 embodies, helping you remember its sound and meaning.
Meanings of 坠
zhuì(zhui4)
1to fall
2to drop
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 坠
坠Simplified
墜Traditional
7Strokes
土Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9788Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 坠
Podcast: 坠
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AI Study Notes for 坠
Quick Contrast
坠 (zhuì) vs 降 (jiàng) — use 坠 for a sudden or uncontrolled fall, while 降 refers to a more controlled descent or lowering.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include misusing 坠 in contexts where another verb like '掉' (diào) might be more appropriate for casual drops. 坠 is more formal and conveys deeper implications of weight and consequence. Pay attention to the context to avoid sounding overly dramatic in everyday conversations.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 坠 connects with other verbs related to motion and status changes, such as 降 (jiàng, to lower) and 跌 (diē, to fall down). Focus on using 坠 in sentences that also involve discussion of weight or emotional states to deepen understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 坠 with similar verbs like '掉' (diào), leading to incorrect usage in informal situations. For example, saying 坠了 instead of the more casual 掉了 when referring to something that simply fell down.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 坠
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Phonosemantic compound. 土 represents the meaning and 队 represents the sound. Simplified form of 墜.
1The meaning half土 carries the sense.
2The sound half队 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayearth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 坠? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
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Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 坠?
Decomposition of 坠
IDS Structure⿱队土
坠Full Character
=
队dui4
top
土Tu3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 坠?
How to say to fall in Chinese
“to fall” in Chinese is坠zhuì
The character 坠 (zhuì) primarily means 'to fall' or 'to drop,' often used to describe physical descent or a decline in status or condition. It can also convey the idea of being burdened or weighed down, both literally and metaphorically, making it versatile in various contexts.
When to use 坠
Common mistakes include misusing 坠 in contexts where another verb like '掉' (diào) might be more appropriate for casual drops. 坠 is more formal and conveys deeper implications of weight and consequence. Pay attention to the context to avoid sounding overly dramatic in everyday conversations.
坠 or something close to it
坠 (zhuì) vs 降 (jiàng) — use 坠 for a sudden or uncontrolled fall, while 降 refers to a more controlled descent or lowering.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 坠 with similar verbs like '掉' (diào), leading to incorrect usage in informal situations. For example, saying 坠了 instead of the more casual 掉了 when referring to something that simply fell down.
Write 坠
坠
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Practice writing 坠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 坠
坠 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 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.
