HSK 7, v, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #12144, Very Hard
蹬
dēng
to tread on
HSK 7, v, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #12144, Very Hard
蹬
dēng
to wear
HSK 7, v, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #12144, Very Hard
蹬
dēng
Taiwan pr. [dèng]
HSK 7, v, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #12144, Very Hard
蹬
dēng
to step on; to wear; to face bad luck
HSK 7, v, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #12144, Very Hard
蹬
dēng
to wear (shoes)
HSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #12144, Very Hard
蹬
dēng
(slang) to dump (sb)
HSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #12144, Very Hard
蹬
dēng
Taiwan pr. [deng4]
HSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #12144, Very Hard
dēng(deng1)deng T1
1to step on
2to tread on
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
蹬dēng(deng1)
The character 蹬 (dēng) primarily means 'to step on' or 'to tread on,' and is often used in contexts related to wearing shoes or other footwear. Additionally, it can carry a slang meaning referring to dumping someone in a relationship, particularly in Taiwan. The nuance of the word can vary based on context, making it important to pay attention to situational usage.
Strokes19Radical足Frequency#12144DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Taiwan, 蹬 is often used in casual conversation to describe the act of ending romantic relationships, which reflects the more laid-back approach to dating in modern Taiwanese culture. Understanding this usage can provide insights into social dynamics in contemporary Taiwan.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person stepping on a 'deng' (sounds like dēng) with their foot. Visualize the shoe pressing down firmly on the ground, making an impression. The character 蹬 has the foot radical (足), emphasizing its connection to stepping and wearing.
Meanings of 蹬
dēng(deng1)
1to step on
2to tread on
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 蹬 means.
About 蹬
蹬Simplified
19Strokes
足Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#12144Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 蹬
Podcast: 蹬
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AI Study Notes for 蹬
Quick Contrast
蹬 (dēng) vs 踏 (tà) — use 蹬 when referring specifically to stepping on something with footwear, while 踏 is more general for stepping or treading.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 蹬 (dēng) with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. This word is more commonly used in informal contexts, particularly in slang. Common collocations include 蹬鞋 (dēng xié - to wear shoes) and 蹬自行车 (dēng zìxíngchē - to ride a bicycle).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 蹬 connects with other action verbs that describe movement or physical activities. Students should focus on its various meanings and usages in different contexts, especially slang, as this will enhance conversational skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蹬 (dēng) with 登 (dēng), which means 'to ascend' or 'to climb.' For example, saying '我蹬山' (wǒ dēng shān) to mean 'I climb the mountain' is incorrect; it should be '我登山' (wǒ dēng shān).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蹬
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How Well Do You Know 蹬?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 蹬 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.
蹬 = 足 + 登. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 蹬
IDS Structure⿰足登
蹬Full Character
=
足ju4
left
登deng1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 蹬?
How to say to step on in Chinese
“to step on” in Chinese is蹬dēng
The character 蹬 (dēng) primarily means 'to step on' or 'to tread on,' and is often used in contexts related to wearing shoes or other footwear. Additionally, it can carry a slang meaning referring to dumping someone in a relationship, particularly in Taiwan. The nuance of the word can vary based on context, making it important to pay attention to situational usage.
When to use 蹬
Be careful not to confuse 蹬 (dēng) with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. This word is more commonly used in informal contexts, particularly in slang. Common collocations include 蹬鞋 (dēng xié - to wear shoes) and 蹬自行车 (dēng zìxíngchē - to ride a bicycle).
蹬 or something close to it
蹬 (dēng) vs 踏 (tà) — use 蹬 when referring specifically to stepping on something with footwear, while 踏 is more general for stepping or treading.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 蹬 (dēng) with 登 (dēng), which means 'to ascend' or 'to climb.' For example, saying '我蹬山' (wǒ dēng shān) to mean 'I climb the mountain' is incorrect; it should be '我登山' (wǒ dēng shān).
Write 蹬
蹬
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Practice writing 蹬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 蹬
蹬 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 8 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
脚____帅气钉靴的足球运动员走进了球场。
Footballers in whopping great studded boots walk over the pitch.
Example Sentences for 蹬 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
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.
2
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.
3
骑手想松开那匹马时，它乱踢乱蹬。
qí shǒu xiǎng sōng kāi nà pǐ mǎ shí， ， tā luàn tī luàn。
As its rider tried to free it, the horse kicked out.
4
他将摩托车撑脚架往上一提，开始蹬车启动。
tā jiāng mó tuō chē chēng jiǎo jià wǎng shàng yī tí， ， kāi shǐ dēng chē qǐ。
He lifted the bike off its stand and kick-started it.
