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足 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
excessiveHSK 6, a, 7 strokes, radical 足, rank #3324, Hard
footHSK 6, a, 7 strokes, radical 足, rank #3324, Hard
to be sufficientHSK 6, a, 7 strokes, radical 足, rank #3324, Hard
ampleHSK 6, a, 7 strokes, radical 足, rank #3324, Hard
foot; to attain, to satisfy; enoughHSK 6, a, 7 strokes, radical 足, rank #3324, Hard
excessiveHSK 6, a, 7 strokes, radical 足, rank #3324, Hard
footHSK 6, a, 7 strokes, radical 足, rank #3324, Hard
to be sufficientHSK 6, a, 7 strokes, radical 足, rank #3324, Hard
ampleHSK 6, a, 7 strokes, radical 足, rank #3324, Hard
foot; to attain, to satisfy; enoughHSK 6, a, 7 strokes, radical 足, rank #3324, Hard
(ju4)
primary
T4
  1. 1excessive
  2. 2foot
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(ju4)

足 (zú) primarily means 'foot' and can also convey the idea of being sufficient or ample. It is often used to describe something that meets a requirement or is more than enough in quantity or quality. In various contexts, it can imply satisfaction or completeness.

Strokes7RadicalFrequency#3324DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of sufficiency is often tied to harmony and balance, reflecting the philosophical principles of moderation and contentment found in Confucianism and Daoism.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant foot (足) that is so big it can easily satisfy anyone's needs, symbolizing abundance and sufficiency. The character looks like a foot stepping firmly on the ground, signifying stability and enough support.

Meanings of 足

(ju4)
primary
1excessive
2foot
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 足

Simplified
7Strokes
Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#3324Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 足

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AI Study Notes for 足

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant foot (足) that is so big it can easily satisfy anyone's needs, symbolizing abundance and sufficiency. The character looks like a foot stepping firmly on the ground, signifying stability and enough support.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 足 (zú) with similar sounding words. In informal contexts, it can mean 'to satisfy' or 'to be enough,' but in formal writing, it might be used more literally. Common collocations include 足够 (sufficient) and 足够的时间 (enough time).

HSK Study Tips

Although 足 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it is useful for learners at HSK 3 and above. Students should note its use in phrases like 足够 and practice its different meanings in context.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of sufficiency is often tied to harmony and balance, reflecting the philosophical principles of moderation and contentment found in Confucianism and Daoism.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 足 (zú) with the character 族 (zú, family/ethnic group) due to the similar pronunciation. Always remember that 足 relates to sufficiency and feet, while 族 pertains to groups of people.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 足

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Etymology of 足

Formation TypePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Explanation

Pictograph of a foot attached to a leg.

Memory Hint

The leg 口 above the foot

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 足?

Decomposition of 足

IDS Structure⿱口?
Full Character
=
kou3
top
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 足?

Write 足

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

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Grammar Patterns of 足

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

他喜欢篮球、____球、游泳等等。

He likes basketball, soccer, swimming, etc.

Example Sentences for 足 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我认为你应该暂时停止踢足球。

wǒ rèn wéi nǐ yīng gāi zàn shí tíng zhǐ tī zú qiú。

I think you ought to give football a rest for a time.
2
你的饮食中新鲜果蔬充足吗?

nǐ de yǐn shí zhōng xīn xiān guǒ shū chōng zú ma?

Are there plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet?
3
你认为当前对罪犯的判决足够严厉吗?

nǐ rèn wéi dāng qián duì zuì fàn de pàn jué zú gòu yán lì ma?

Do you believe that sentences for criminals are tough enough at present?
4
总裁捶胸顿足,称那是个错误的交易。

zǒng cái chuí xiōng dùn zú, , chēng nà shì gè cuò wù de jiāo。

The president beat his breast and called that deal a mistake.
5
还有其他形式的民众骚乱,最出名的是足球流氓行为。

huán yǒu qí tā xíng shì de mín zhòng sāo luàn, , zuì chū míng de shì zú qiú liú máng háng。

There are other forms of civil disorder — most notably, football hooliganism.
6
斯特兰德街是伦敦最繁华、最富足的街道之一。

sī tè lán dé jiē shì lún dūn zuì fán huá、 、 zuì fù zú de jiē dào zhī。

The Strand is one of London's busiest and most affluent streets.
7
建设电站的资金本该足够了。

jiàn shè diàn zhàn de zī jīn běn gāi zú gòu le。

The money to build the power station ought to have been sufficient.
8
脚蹬帅气钉靴的足球运动员走进了球场。

jiǎo dēng shuài qì dīng xuē de zú qiú yùn dòng yuán zǒu jìn le qiú cháng。

Footballers in whopping great studded boots walk over the pitch.
9
这听上去也许微不足道,但是,相信我,它十分重要!

zhè tīng shàng qù yě xǔ wēi bù zú dào, , dàn, shì , xiāng, xìn wǒ , tā shí!

This may sound trivial, but I assure you it is quite important!
10
这足以让他们的事业平步青云了。

zhè zú yǐ ràng tā mén de shì yè píng bù qīng yún le。

This was enough to launch their careers into the stratosphere.

Cultural Notes for 足

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of sufficiency is often tied to harmony and balance, reflecting the philosophical principles of moderation and contentment found in Confucianism and Daoism.

Word Family of 足

Compounds258
gen1heel
Lu4surname Lu
pao2(of an animal) to paw (the ground)
tiao4to jump
zong1footprint
dao3to tread on
ti1to kick
ju4at a distance of
pa1to lie on one's stomach
zhuo1to clutch
ta1see 踏實
cai3variant of 踩[cǎi]
yue4to jump
dun1to crouch
gui4to kneel
cu4urgent
kua4to step across
die1to drop
zao4hot-tempered
zhi3toe; tracks, footprints
beng4to jump
jiao1to tumble, to fall; to wrestle
huai2ankle
ceng4to shuffle; to procrastinate, to freeload, to dilly-dally
jian4to fulfill (a promise)
qiao1to stand on tiptoe; stilts
ti2hoof; pig's trotter
bie2to limp
chuai4to trample, to tread on; to kick; to crush
tai2to trample, to kick
qi1trail, footpath
ta4to step on
deng1to step on
chuo4narrow, small-minded; dirty (2)
ba2to walk, to travel; epilogue, colophon
bo3lame
rou2to trample, to tread on
lin4to trample, to oppress; to overrun
zhong3heel; to follow; to visit, to call on
duo4to stamp the feet
jue2to stumble, to fall; to trample
蹿cuan1to jump, to leap; to gush, to spurt
dian3to tip-toe
ji1to ascend, to rise
chou2to falter, to hesitate; smug, self-satisfied
chu2to hesitate, to falter; undecided
duo2to pace, to stroll, to walk slowly
pu3webbed feet
shan1to stagger, to limp
pan2to stagger, to limp
nie4to tip-toe, to walk quietly
dun3to buy or sell wholesale
liang2to hop, to jump; hurried, urgent
qiang1to stagger, to stumble
tang1to trample, to wade; muddy, wet
ta4to stumble, to slip
ju4to crouch, to squat; to occupy
cu4to leap; to kick; solemn
cu4to frown, to knit the brows; distressed
cuo1slip, mistake, error
zhi2the sole of the foot
zhi2to hesitate, to waver; irresolute
zhu2to walk carefully; to hesitate, to falter
tuo2to stumble, to falter, to vacillate
fu1arch, instep
yong3leap
ji1trace, tracks; footprints
chi2hesitant, undecided; embarrassed
ta4to stumble, to slip
chu2to falter, to waver, to hesitate
kui3short step, half-pace
qiao1to stand on tiptoe; stilts
ji1trace, sign, mark, footprint
yue4to skip, to jump, to frolic
bao4the noise of tramping feet
fu1to sit cross-legged; tarsus, instep
jian3blister, callus
趿ta1to tread on; slipshod
ji1to creep, to crawl
jia1to squat, to sit cross-legged
li4to walk, to move
xian3barefoot
qiong2the sound of footsteps
bi4to clear the way; to make way for the emperor
xian1to walk about; to revolve; to dance
ji4to kneel; to get on hands and knees
chi4to pace; to turn around midway
chuo1to stride, to excel, to get ahead
ju1ball
bo2stiff, corpse-like; rigor mortis
qie4to take small steps
zhi4to stumble, to totter; to fail, to be frustrated
di4paw
jian4to somersault
ju3to walk alone; self-reliant; hunch-backed
die2to skip, to dance; to put a foot down
pian2to limp
Jian3lame, crippled; nag, donkey; slow, difficult
qiang1to limp; to lurch
zao1to spoil; to ruin
fan2paw
lie4to stride over; to step across
chan2to follow, to imitate; path, rut
zuan1to jump
xie4to walk
zhuo2to soak, to steep in water
跿
jian4to trample, to tread on, to walk over
yong3to leap
踿
qiang1to stagger, to stumble
pan2to stagger, to limp
zong1footprints, traces, tracks
dun3to buy or sell wholesale
chou2to falter, to hesitate; smug, self-satisfied
ji1to ascend, to rise
zhi2to hesitate, to waver; irresolute
zhi4to stumble, to totter; to fail, to be frustrated
chu2to falter, to waver, to hesitate
xian1to walk about; to revolve; to dance
nie4to tip-toe, to walk quietly
cuan1to jump, to leap; to gush, to spurt
lin4to trample, to oppress; to overrun
chuo4narrow, small-minded; dirty (2)
Words Containing This Character20
足够zúgòuenough足夠
满足mǎnzúto satisfy滿足
不足bùzúlacking
足球zúqiúsoccer ball
foot
足以zúyǐso that
十足shízúample
充足chōngzúadequate
足足fully
足协soccer league足協
足迹zújìfootprint足跡
立足lìzúto stand
微不足道wēibùzúdàonegligible
足球队soccer team足球隊
知足zhīzúcontent with one's situation
涉足to set foot in
足球赛soccer match足球賽
足球场football field足球場
无足轻重wúzúqīngzhònginsignificant無足輕重
举足轻重jǔzúqīngzhònginfluential舉足輕重
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 跟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 足

It is pronounced as 'zú'.