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躏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
躏lìnto trample, to oppress; to overrunx, 21 strokes, radical 足
躏lìnto trample downunknown, 21 strokes, radical 足
lìn(lin4) T4
  1. 1to trample, to oppress; to overrun
  2. 2to trample down
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March 24, 2026

躏(躪)lìn(lin4)

The character 躏 (lìn) primarily means to trample or to oppress. It often conveys a sense of forceful action, such as overpowering someone or something. This word can be used in both literal contexts, like physically trampling on something, and metaphorical contexts, such as oppressing a group of people.

Strokes21Radical足
Cultural Note

In Chinese history, the concept of oppression has deep roots, particularly in relation to social hierarchies and political regimes. Understanding this character can help learners appreciate discussions about historical oppression in Chinese literature.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant foot (the radical 躏) stomping down with great force, crushing everything beneath it. The sound 'lìn' can be remembered as a 'linchpin' that holds down everything, illustrating the act of trampling or oppressing.

Meanings of 躏

lìn(lin4)
1to trample, to oppress; to overrun
2to trample down
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 躏

躏Simplified
躪Traditional
21Strokes
足Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 躏

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Podcast: 躏

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AI Study Notes for 躏

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 躏 with similar-sounding characters. It is generally used in a more formal or literary context, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations may include phrases related to oppression or overrun situations.

HSK Study Tips

While 躏 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, its meaning connects with other verbs describing actions of force or aggression. Focus on recognizing the context when you see it alongside other action verbs.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 躏 with the more common character 蹂, which also relates to trampling but carries a different nuance. An incorrect usage might be saying '我躏了' (wǒ lìn le) when referring to walking on grass; the correct phrase should reflect the intended meaning without implying oppression.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 躏

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Etymology of 躏

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

foot

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 躏

  1. 1The meaning half足 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half蔺 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 躏? 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 躏?

Decomposition of 躏

IDS Structure⿰足蔺
躏Full Character
=
足ju4
left
蔺Lin4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 躏?

How to say to trample, to oppress; to overrun in Chinese

“to trample, to oppress; to overrun” in Chinese is躏lìn

The character 躏 (lìn) primarily means to trample or to oppress. It often conveys a sense of forceful action, such as overpowering someone or something. This word can be used in both literal contexts, like physically trampling on something, and metaphorical contexts, such as oppressing a group of people.

When to use 躏

Be careful not to confuse 躏 with similar-sounding characters. It is generally used in a more formal or literary context, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations may include phrases related to oppression or overrun situations.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 躏 with the more common character 蹂, which also relates to trampling but carries a different nuance. An incorrect usage might be saying '我躏了' (wǒ lìn le) when referring to walking on grass; the correct phrase should reflect the intended meaning without implying oppression.

Write 躏

躏

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

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Word Family of 躏

Words Containing This Character2
蹂躏to ravage蹂躪
躏lìnto oppress躪
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 蹂躏 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 躏

No, 躏 is more often found in literary or formal contexts rather than in casual speech.

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