unknown, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #20357, Very Hard
蹿
cuān
(coll.) to gush out
unknown, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #20357, Very Hard
蹿
cuān
to spurt out
unknown, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #20357, Very Hard
cuān(cuan1) T1
1to jump, to leap; to gush, to spurt
2to leap up
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March 24, 2026
蹿(躥)cuān(cuan1)
The character 蹿 (cuān) primarily means 'to jump' or 'to leap,' often used in contexts that convey a sense of sudden movement or vigorous action. It can also describe the action of something gushing or spurting out, such as a liquid. This word is commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, indicating energetic or rapid motion.
Strokes19Radical足Frequency#20357DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, images of leaping animals like dragons or tigers are often associated with power and vitality, which aligns with the meaning of 蹿 as an energetic leap. This character can evoke imagery of martial arts movements and lively performances.
Memory Tip
Imagine a rabbit (兔, tù) leaping (蹿, cuān) high into the air, and as it jumps, a fountain (喷泉, pēnquán) starts gushing water. The radical for 'foot' (足, zú) in 蹿 reminds you that this action involves movement, and the pronunciation 'cuān' sounds like 'swan,' which also leaps gracefully.
Meanings of 蹿
cuān(cuan1)
1to jump, to leap; to gush, to spurt
2to leap up
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 蹿
蹿Simplified
躥Traditional
19Strokes
足Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蹿
Podcast: 蹿
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AI Study Notes for 蹿
Quick Contrast
跳 (tiào) vs 蹿 (cuān): Use 蹿 when emphasizing sudden or vigorous movement, while 跳 is a more general term for jumping without the same connotation of urgency.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 蹿 with similar verbs like 跳 (tiào), which also means 'to jump' but is more common for normal jumping actions. 蹿 carries a connotation of suddenness and vigor. It is generally more informal, so consider the context when using it.
HSK Study Tips
Though 蹿 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can help learners connect with other movement-related verbs like 跳 (tiào) and 走 (zǒu) at HSK Level 2. Students should focus on the various contexts where vigorous or sudden movement is described, as well as related phrases.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蹿 with 逃 (táo), which means 'to escape.' For example, saying '他蹿走了' (tā cuān zǒule) could incorrectly imply he jumped away when the intended meaning might be he escaped. Instead, use '他逃走了' (tā táo zǒule) for 'he escaped.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蹿
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Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 窜 represents the sound. Simplified form of 躥.
1The meaning half足 carries the sense.
2The sound half窜 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayfoot
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 蹿? 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 蹿?
Decomposition of 蹿
IDS Structure⿰足窜
蹿Full Character
=
足ju4
left
窜cuan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 蹿?
How to say to jump, to leap; to gush, to spurt in Chinese
“to jump, to leap; to gush, to spurt” in Chinese is蹿cuān
The character 蹿 (cuān) primarily means 'to jump' or 'to leap,' often used in contexts that convey a sense of sudden movement or vigorous action. It can also describe the action of something gushing or spurting out, such as a liquid. This word is commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, indicating energetic or rapid motion.
When to use 蹿
Be careful not to confuse 蹿 with similar verbs like 跳 (tiào), which also means 'to jump' but is more common for normal jumping actions. 蹿 carries a connotation of suddenness and vigor. It is generally more informal, so consider the context when using it.
蹿 or something close to it
跳 (tiào) vs 蹿 (cuān): Use 蹿 when emphasizing sudden or vigorous movement, while 跳 is a more general term for jumping without the same connotation of urgency.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 蹿 with 逃 (táo), which means 'to escape.' For example, saying '他蹿走了' (tā cuān zǒule) could incorrectly imply he jumped away when the intended meaning might be he escaped. Instead, use '他逃走了' (tā táo zǒule) for 'he escaped.'
Write 蹿
蹿
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Practice writing 蹿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 蹿
蹿 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 4 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
Complete the Sentence
我的衬裙已经____到臀部，厚厚地卷成一圈。
My underskirt had ridden up into a thick band around my hips.
Example Sentences for 蹿 (7)
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1
我的衬裙已经蹿到臀部，厚厚地卷成一圈。
wǒ de chèn qún yǐ jīng cuān dào tún bù， ， hòu hòu dì juàn chéng yī。
My underskirt had ridden up into a thick band around my hips.
2
他的起跑近乎完美，迅速从那群人中蹿了出去。
tā de qǐ pǎo jìn hū wán měi， ， xùn sù cóng nà qún rén zhōng cuān le chū。
He got a near perfect start, streaking away from the pack.
