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脚印 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
脚印jiǎoyìnfootprintHSK 6, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #6674, Hard
jiǎoyìn(jiao3yin4)jiao yin T3
  1. 1footprint
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March 24, 2026

脚印(腳印)jiǎoyìn(jiao3yin4)

脚印 (jiǎo yìn) refers to a footprint, which is the mark left by a foot on a surface, typically soil, sand, or snow. It is commonly used in contexts such as tracking animals or people, as well as metaphorically to refer to someone's presence or impact.

Strokes16Frequency#6674DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, footprints are sometimes associated with the idea of leaving a legacy or impact on the world, similar to the concept of 'leaving one's mark' in society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant shoe print in the sand (脚 - jiǎo means 'foot') that tells a story of where someone has walked (印 - yìn means 'mark' or 'print'). Visualize the footprint leading you on an adventure, helping you remember that 脚印 captures the essence of a journey.

Meanings of 脚印

jiǎoyìn(jiao3yin4)
1footprint
Exercise 1 of 3

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About 脚印

脚印Simplified
腳印Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 脚印

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Podcast: 脚印

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AI Study Notes for 脚印

Quick Contrast

足迹 (zújì) — use 脚印 for physical footprints, while 足迹 can imply a broader sense of traces or marks left behind.

Usage Notes

When using 脚印, be careful to use the correct measure word if discussing multiple footprints; you might say '一只脚印' (one footprint) or '几只脚印' (several footprints). The term is more informal and is commonly used in everyday conversation rather than formal writing.

HSK Study Tips

As a potential HSK 3 or 4 vocabulary word, students should connect 脚印 with other words related to nature and movement, such as 路 (lù - road) and 跑 (pǎo - to run). Focus on practicing pronunciation and writing to reinforce memory.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 脚印 with other similar words like 印记 (yìn jì - imprint), which can lead to incorrect usage. Remember, 脚印 specifically refers to a footprint, while 印记 can refer to any kind of mark or imprint.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 脚印

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Component Characters

脚jiǎofoot
HSK 311 strokes⺼
View full entry
印yìnto print
HSK 65 strokes卩
View full entry

How to say footprint in Chinese

“footprint” in Chinese is脚印jiǎoyìn

脚印 (jiǎo yìn) refers to a footprint, which is the mark left by a foot on a surface, typically soil, sand, or snow. It is commonly used in contexts such as tracking animals or people, as well as metaphorically to refer to someone's presence or impact.

When to use 脚印

When using 脚印, be careful to use the correct measure word if discussing multiple footprints; you might say '一只脚印' (one footprint) or '几只脚印' (several footprints). The term is more informal and is commonly used in everyday conversation rather than formal writing.

脚印 or something close to it

足迹 (zújì) — use 脚印 for physical footprints, while 足迹 can imply a broader sense of traces or marks left behind.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 脚印 with other similar words like 印记 (yìn jì - imprint), which can lead to incorrect usage. Remember, 脚印 specifically refers to a footprint, while 印记 can refer to any kind of mark or imprint.

Write 脚印

脚
印

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

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Grammar Patterns of 脚印

脚印 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 patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.

脚印的样子

The appearance of footprints

这些脚印的样子很奇怪。
Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

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

____的样子

The appearance of footprints

Common Confusions with 脚印

脚印vs印
yìn

印 can mean stamp or print, while its usage in 脚印 refers specifically to the print left by a foot.

脚印vs脚
jiǎo

脚印 literally means 'footprint', while 脚 alone means 'foot'.

Exercise 1 of 1

Which one

Which one means “footprint”?

or

Usage Notes for 脚印

Misunderstanding the termCommon Error

Students may confuse 脚印 with similar terms that refer to other types of prints or marks.

1

他看到一个奇怪的脚印。

He saw a strange footprint.

Exercise 1 of 1

Get it right

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

他看到一个奇怪的____。

He saw a strange footprint.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 脚印

The pronunciation is jiǎo yìn, with the third tone on 脚 and the fourth tone on 印.

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