HSK 7, zg, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #11515, Very Hard
腾
téng
to gallop
HSK 7, zg, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #11515, Very Hard
腾
téng
to prance
HSK 7, zg, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #11515, Very Hard
腾
téng
to turn over
HSK 7, zg, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #11515, Very Hard
腾
téng
to vacate
HSK 7, zg, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #11515, Very Hard
腾
téng
to clear
HSK 7, zg, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #11515, Very Hard
腾
téng
to fly, to soar; to gallop, to prance; rising, steaming
HSK 7, zg, 13 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #11515, Very Hard
téng(teng2) T2
1to soar
2to gallop
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
腾(騰)téng(teng2)
The character 腾 (téng) primarily means 'to soar' or 'to gallop,' often used to describe rapid movement or flight. It can also imply the act of clearing or vacating a space, making it versatile in various contexts, such as describing animals in motion or an emotional high. This character is often associated with a sense of elevation or dynamic action.
Strokes13Radical⺼Frequency#11515DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of soaring is often tied to success and prosperity, symbolizing the aspiration to rise above challenges. This is reflected in idioms and sayings that encourage ambition and upward mobility.
Memory Tip
Imagine a mighty dragon (the radical for 'teng' is '腾' which looks like a dragon taking flight) soaring high in the sky. The dragon '腾' (téng) is not just flying; it's galloping through the clouds, showing its power and freedom. Picture the dragon prancing across the heavens, and you'll remember that '腾' means to soar or gallop.
Meanings of 腾
téng(teng2)
1to soar
2to gallop
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 腾
腾Simplified
騰Traditional
13Strokes
⺼Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#11515Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 腾
Podcast: 腾
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
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AI Study Notes for 腾
Quick Contrast
腾 (téng) vs 飞 (fēi) — use 腾 for rapid movement with a sense of elevation or excitement, while 飞 focuses on the act of flying without the same connotation of urgency.
Usage Notes
Beware of confusing 腾 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings, like 蹬 (dēng), which means to step or tread. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in literature and poetry. A common collocation is '腾飞' (téngfēi), meaning 'to take off' or 'to soar high.'
HSK Study Tips
Though 腾 is not officially listed in HSK levels, it relates to verbs of motion and elevation common in introductory levels. Students should focus on its use in conjunction with other movement verbs and expressions to enhance their vocabulary about actions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 腾 with 踏 (tà), which means to step or tread, especially in verbal contexts. For example, saying '我想要腾这个地方' (I want to gallop this place) is incorrect; instead, use '我想要腾出这个地方' (I want to clear this space).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 腾
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Phonosemantic compound. 马 represents the meaning and 朕 represents the sound. Simplified form of 騰.
1The meaning half马 carries the sense.
2The sound half朕 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayhorse
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 腾? 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 腾?
Decomposition of 腾
IDS Structure⿸朕马
腾Full Character
=
朕zhen4
enclosing
马Ma3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 腾?
How to say to soar in Chinese
“to soar” in Chinese is腾téng
The character 腾 (téng) primarily means 'to soar' or 'to gallop,' often used to describe rapid movement or flight. It can also imply the act of clearing or vacating a space, making it versatile in various contexts, such as describing animals in motion or an emotional high. This character is often associated with a sense of elevation or dynamic action.
When to use 腾
Beware of confusing 腾 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings, like 蹬 (dēng), which means to step or tread. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in literature and poetry. A common collocation is '腾飞' (téngfēi), meaning 'to take off' or 'to soar high.'
腾 or something close to it
腾 (téng) vs 飞 (fēi) — use 腾 for rapid movement with a sense of elevation or excitement, while 飞 focuses on the act of flying without the same connotation of urgency.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 腾 with 踏 (tà), which means to step or tread, especially in verbal contexts. For example, saying '我想要腾这个地方' (I want to gallop this place) is incorrect; instead, use '我想要腾出这个地方' (I want to clear this space).
Write 腾
腾
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Practice writing 腾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 腾
腾 carries 7 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
狗喜欢在泥水洼里扑____，河马则喜欢在其中打滚撒欢儿。
Dogs love splashing in mud and hippos wallow in it.
