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腾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
腾
téng
to soar
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)teng T2
1to soar
2to gallop
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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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 腾 means.
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
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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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How well do you know 腾?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 腾 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.
腾 = 马 + 朕. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 腾
IDS Structure⿸朕马
腾Full character
=
朕zhen4
enclosing
马Ma3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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.
Example sentences for 腾 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
狗喜欢在泥水洼里扑腾，河马则喜欢在其中打滚撒欢儿。
gǒu xǐhuan zài ní shuǐ wā lǐ pū téng， hé mǎ zé xǐhuan zài qízhōng dǎ gǔn sǎ huān ér。
Dogs love splashing in mud and hippos wallow in it.
2
婚礼真是件折腾人的事，办完后得好好休息才行。
hūnlǐ zhēnshi jiàn zhēteng rén de shì， bàn wán hòu de hǎohǎo xiūxi cái xíng。
Weddings are so much hassle that you need a good break afterwards.
3
那匹马前蹄腾空向后仰，把骑手摔了下去。
nà pǐ mǎ qián tí téng kōng xiàng hòu yǎng， bǎ qíshǒu shuāi le xiàqù。
The horse reared and threw off its rider.
4
整个喀布尔都能看到腾起的黑烟.
zhěnggè kā bù ěr dōu néng kàndào téng qǐ de hēi yān.
The rising plume of black smoke could be seen all over Kabul.
5
滚滚浓烟盘旋翻腾，恶臭味呛得她喘不过气来。
gǔn gǔn nóng yān pánxuán fān téng， è chòu wèi qiāng de tā chuǎn búguò qì lái。
Dense smoke swirled and billowed, its rank fumes choking her.
6
我需要在热腾腾的澡盆里好好地泡一泡。
wǒ xūyào zài rè téng téng de zǎo pén lǐ hǎohǎo dì pào yī pào。
