Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
蹁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蹁piánto limpv, 16 strokes, radical 足
pián(pian2) T2
  1. 1to limp
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蹁pián(pian2)

The character 蹁 (pián) means 'to limp' or 'to walk with a limp.' It is often used to describe a gait that is unsteady or affected by injury, conveying a sense of difficulty in movement. This term can be used both literally, in reference to physical movement, and metaphorically, to express a lack of steadiness in various contexts.

Strokes16Radical足
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, limping can be associated with various health conditions, highlighting the importance of physical well-being in daily life. The way one walks is often seen as a reflection of one's health and vitality.

Memory Tip

Imagine a penguin (sounds like 'pián') waddling awkwardly, struggling to maintain its balance. The character 蹁 features the 'foot' radical (足), which relates to walking, and the component '偏' (piān), meaning 'deviate,' symbolizing a deviation in a regular walking pattern.

Meanings of 蹁

pián(pian2)
1to limp
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蹁

蹁Simplified
16Strokes
足Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蹁

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蹁

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 蹁

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 蹁 with similar-sounding words or characters like 偏 (piān), which means 'to deviate' or 'bias.' It's important to use 蹁 in contexts related to movement and physical states. This term is more commonly used in informal speech rather than formal writing.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蹁 is not included in the HSK levels, it’s beneficial to associate it with other movement-related verbs like 跑 (pǎo - to run) and 走 (zǒu - to walk). Focus on context when using this word in conversation to enhance comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 蹁 to describe someone who is simply walking slowly, saying something like '他走得很蹁' instead of using a more suitable verb like 慢 (màn - slow). Correct usage would be to describe someone who is limping due to an injury.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蹁

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 蹁 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 蹁

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

foot

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蹁

  1. 1The meaning half足 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half扁 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 蹁? 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 蹁?

Decomposition of 蹁

IDS Structure⿰足扁
蹁Full Character
=
足ju4
left
扁bian3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蹁?

How to say to limp in Chinese

“to limp” in Chinese is蹁pián

The character 蹁 (pián) means 'to limp' or 'to walk with a limp.' It is often used to describe a gait that is unsteady or affected by injury, conveying a sense of difficulty in movement. This term can be used both literally, in reference to physical movement, and metaphorically, to express a lack of steadiness in various contexts.

When to use 蹁

Learners often confuse 蹁 with similar-sounding words or characters like 偏 (piān), which means 'to deviate' or 'bias.' It's important to use 蹁 in contexts related to movement and physical states. This term is more commonly used in informal speech rather than formal writing.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 蹁 to describe someone who is simply walking slowly, saying something like '他走得很蹁' instead of using a more suitable verb like 慢 (màn - slow). Correct usage would be to describe someone who is limping due to an injury.

Write 蹁

蹁

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 蹁

Words Containing This Character1
蹁piánto limp
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蹁 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蹁

You can say '他走路时有些蹁跚' (Tā zǒulù shí yǒuxiē piánshān), meaning 'He limps a bit when he walks.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蹁?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.