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踺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
踺jiànto somersaultx, 15 strokes, radical 足
踺jiànsomersault (in gymnastics or dance)unknown, 15 strokes, radical 足
踺jiànhead-over-heelsunknown, 15 strokes, radical 足
踺jiànaerial flipunknown, 15 strokes, radical 足
踺jiànalso written 踺子unknown, 15 strokes, radical 足
jiàn(jian4) T4
  1. 1to somersault
  2. 2somersault (in gymnastics or dance)
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March 24, 2026

踺jiàn(jian4)

The character 踺 (jiàn) refers to the action of performing a somersault or aerial flip, commonly seen in gymnastics, dance, or acrobatics. It conveys a sense of agility and grace, emphasizing the physical movement involved in flipping over. It is often used in contexts related to sports, performance arts, or physical fitness.

Strokes15Radical足
Cultural Note

In Chinese acrobatics, somersaults are a vital and celebrated skill, often featured in traditional performances. The character 踺 reflects a cultural appreciation for agility and the artistry of movement, which is prominent in both historical and modern Chinese performances.

Memory Tip

Imagine a gymnast doing a flip in the air, with their legs 'kicking' (踺) up and over their head. The character 踺 has the 'foot' radical (足), reminding you that this action involves the feet and movement, while the 'head-over-heels' notion connects to the meaning of somersault.

Meanings of 踺

jiàn(jian4)
1to somersault
2somersault (in gymnastics or dance)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 踺

踺Simplified
15Strokes
足Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 踺

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Podcast: 踺

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AI Study Notes for 踺

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 踺 is a somewhat specialized term, often used in formal or technical contexts related to gymnastics or dance. While it can be used in casual conversations, it's less common, so ensure clarity if you choose to use it in everyday dialogue. Avoid mixing it up with more general terms for 'flip' or 'roll', which may not convey the same acrobatic meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 踺 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, it relates to physical action words that might appear in higher levels. Students should focus on recognizing the components of the character and how it fits within the broader context of sports terminology.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 踺 with simpler verbs related to movement, such as 跳 (tiào, to jump) or 翻 (fān, to turn over). For example, saying '我踺到水里' (wǒ jiàn dào shuǐ lǐ) instead of '我翻到水里' (wǒ fān dào shuǐ lǐ) can lead to misunderstanding, as 踺 specifically refers to somersaulting.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 踺

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Etymology of 踺

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

foot

Semantic (meaning)足
+
Phonetic (sound)建
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 踺

  1. 1The meaning half足 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half建 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayfoot
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 踺? 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 踺?

Decomposition of 踺

IDS Structure⿰足建
踺Full Character
=
足ju4
left
建jian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 踺?

How to say to somersault in Chinese

“to somersault” in Chinese is踺jiàn

The character 踺 (jiàn) refers to the action of performing a somersault or aerial flip, commonly seen in gymnastics, dance, or acrobatics. It conveys a sense of agility and grace, emphasizing the physical movement involved in flipping over. It is often used in contexts related to sports, performance arts, or physical fitness.

When to use 踺

Be mindful that 踺 is a somewhat specialized term, often used in formal or technical contexts related to gymnastics or dance. While it can be used in casual conversations, it's less common, so ensure clarity if you choose to use it in everyday dialogue. Avoid mixing it up with more general terms for 'flip' or 'roll', which may not convey the same acrobatic meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 踺 with simpler verbs related to movement, such as 跳 (tiào, to jump) or 翻 (fān, to turn over). For example, saying '我踺到水里' (wǒ jiàn dào shuǐ lǐ) instead of '我翻到水里' (wǒ fān dào shuǐ lǐ) can lead to misunderstanding, as 踺 specifically refers to somersaulting.

Write 踺

踺

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

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Word Family of 踺

Words Containing This Character2
踺子head-over-heels
踺jiànaerial flip
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 踺子 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 踺

It is pronounced as 'jiàn', with a falling tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 踺?

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