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脛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
脛jìngcalf, shinbonex, 11 strokes, radical ⺼
jìng(jing4) T4
  1. 1calf, shinbone
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March 24, 2026

脛jìng(jing4)

The character 脛 (jìng) refers specifically to the calf or shinbone area of the leg. It is commonly used in medical or anatomical contexts to describe that part of the leg between the knee and the ankle. Understanding this term can be helpful for discussions about health, fitness, or anatomy.

Strokes11Radical⺼
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the shin area is often linked to various health conditions, and massage or acupuncture treatments may focus on this area to relieve discomfort or improve circulation.

Memory Tip

Think of 脛 as a 'jingle' sound coming from your shin when you kick a soccer ball. The left side '月' (moon) suggests the shape of a leg, while the right side '脛' (foot radical) hints at its connection to the lower limb.

Meanings of 脛

jìng(jing4)
1calf, shinbone
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 脛

脛Simplified
11Strokes
⺼Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 脛

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Podcast: 脛

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AI Study Notes for 脛

Quick Contrast

小腿 (xiǎotuǐ, lower leg) — use 脛 (jìng) when referring specifically to the shinbone area, while 小腿 (xiǎotuǐ) is a broader term that includes the entire lower leg.

Usage Notes

This term is generally used in medical or anatomical discussions, making it more formal in nature. A common mistake is confusing it with the more general term for 'leg' (腿 tuǐ). Remember to use 脛 specifically for the calf or shinbone.

HSK Study Tips

While 脛 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to HSK Level 3 vocabulary about body parts. Students should focus on recognizing the radicals and understanding how this specific term relates to general anatomy vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 脛 with 腿 (tuǐ), which means 'leg' in general. A wrong example would be saying '我的脛痛' (wǒ de jìng tòng) when referring to leg pain; it should be '我的腿痛' (wǒ de tuǐ tòng).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 脛

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Etymology of 脛

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

flesh

Semantic (meaning)⺼
+
Phonetic (sound)巠
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

脛 = ⺼ + 巠. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 脛

IDS Structure⿰⺼巠
脛Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
巠jing1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 脛?

How to say calf, shinbone in Chinese

“calf, shinbone” in Chinese is脛jìng

The character 脛 (jìng) refers specifically to the calf or shinbone area of the leg. It is commonly used in medical or anatomical contexts to describe that part of the leg between the knee and the ankle. Understanding this term can be helpful for discussions about health, fitness, or anatomy.

When to use 脛

This term is generally used in medical or anatomical discussions, making it more formal in nature. A common mistake is confusing it with the more general term for 'leg' (腿 tuǐ). Remember to use 脛 specifically for the calf or shinbone.

脛 or something close to it

小腿 (xiǎotuǐ, lower leg) — use 脛 (jìng) when referring specifically to the shinbone area, while 小腿 (xiǎotuǐ) is a broader term that includes the entire lower leg.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 脛 with 腿 (tuǐ), which means 'leg' in general. A wrong example would be saying '我的脛痛' (wǒ de jìng tòng) when referring to leg pain; it should be '我的腿痛' (wǒ de tuǐ tòng).

Write 脛

脛

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

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Word Family of 脛

Words Containing This Character3
胫骨tibia脛骨
胫jìnglower part of leg脛
不胫而走to get round fast不脛而走
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 脛

What does 胫骨 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 脛

It is pronounced as jìng, with a falling tone.

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