Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
躡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
躡nièto tip-toe, to walk quietlyzg, 25 strokes, radical 足
niè(nie4) T4
  1. 1to tip-toe, to walk quietly
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

躡niè(nie4)

The character 躡 (niè) means to tip-toe or to walk quietly, often used to describe a stealthy approach. It conveys the idea of moving carefully and silently, which can be applied in contexts such as sneaking up on someone or moving quietly in a library.

Strokes25Radical足
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, moving quietly can be seen as a sign of respect, especially in settings like temples or during ceremonies where silence is valued.

Memory Tip

Imagine a cat (the top radical, '足' meaning foot) tip-toeing (the character itself) to catch a mouse. The sound 'niè' can be remembered as the cat silently 'neighing' as it walks quietly.

Meanings of 躡

niè(nie4)
1to tip-toe, to walk quietly
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 躡

躡Simplified
25Strokes
足Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 躡

JasonAmy

Podcast: 躡

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 躡

Quick Contrast

轻声 (qīngshēng, quietly) — use 躡 when emphasizing the stealthy aspect of movement, while 轻声 focuses on the volume of sound.

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 躡 is more formal and literary than everyday vocabulary. It often appears in written contexts rather than in casual conversation. Common collocations include 躡手躡脚 (to move stealthily).

HSK Study Tips

Although 躡 is not currently part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be linked to other characters related to movement and action, such as 走 (to walk) and 跑 (to run). Focus on recognizing the character's components and practicing its pronunciation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 躡 with other similar characters related to movement, such as 跳 (to jump). Remember that 躡 specifically refers to quiet, stealthy movement, not just any kind of walking.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 躡

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 躡 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 躡

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

To walk 足 quietly 聶; 聶 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 躡

  1. 1The giveawayTo walk 足 quietly 聶; 聶 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 躡? 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 躡?

Decomposition of 躡

IDS Structure⿰足聶
躡Full Character
=
足ju4
left
聶nie4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 躡?

How to say to tip-toe, to walk quietly in Chinese

“to tip-toe, to walk quietly” in Chinese is躡niè

The character 躡 (niè) means to tip-toe or to walk quietly, often used to describe a stealthy approach. It conveys the idea of moving carefully and silently, which can be applied in contexts such as sneaking up on someone or moving quietly in a library.

When to use 躡

Be mindful that 躡 is more formal and literary than everyday vocabulary. It often appears in written contexts rather than in casual conversation. Common collocations include 躡手躡脚 (to move stealthily).

躡 or something close to it

轻声 (qīngshēng, quietly) — use 躡 when emphasizing the stealthy aspect of movement, while 轻声 focuses on the volume of sound.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 躡 with other similar characters related to movement, such as 跳 (to jump). Remember that 躡 specifically refers to quiet, stealthy movement, not just any kind of walking.

Write 躡

躡

Practice writing 躡 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 躡

Words Containing This Character4
蹑手蹑脚to walk quietly on tiptoe (idiom)躡手躡腳
蹑nièto follow躡
蹑足to walk on tiptoe躡足
蹑踪to follow along behind sb (formal writing)躡蹤
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 蹑手蹑脚 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 躡

It is pronounced as 'niè'.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 躡?

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.