to shuffle; to procrastinate, to freeload, to dilly-dally
HSK 7, v, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #9269, Very Hard
蹭
cèng
to rub against
HSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #9269, Very Hard
蹭
cèng
to walk slowly
HSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #9269, Very Hard
蹭
cèng
to freeload (colloquial)
HSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, radical 足, rank #9269, Very Hard
cèng(ceng4) T4
1to shuffle; to procrastinate, to freeload, to dilly-dally
2to rub against
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March 24, 2026
蹭cèng(ceng4)
The character 蹭 (cèng) primarily means to shuffle or rub against something. It can also imply procrastination or lingering aimlessly, often with a connotation of freeloading or taking advantage of others. In everyday contexts, it can refer to someone who is slow to act or is hanging around without a clear purpose.
Strokes19Radical足Frequency#9269DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of '蹭' is often associated with social gatherings where one might take advantage of free food or resources, reflecting the communal aspects of Chinese hospitality.
Memory Tip
Imagine a slow-moving sloth (蹭) shuffling along a path, rubbing against the trees as it goes. The sloth's leisurely pace and tendency to hang around symbolize the idea of procrastination and freeloading, making it easier to remember the pronunciation 'cèng'.
Meanings of 蹭
cèng(ceng4)
1to shuffle; to procrastinate, to freeload, to dilly-dally
2to rub against
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 蹭
蹭Simplified
19Strokes
足Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 蹭
Podcast: 蹭
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AI Study Notes for 蹭
Quick Contrast
蹭 (cèng) vs 磨 (mó) — choose 蹭 when emphasizing aimless lingering or freeloading, while 磨 focuses on grinding or sharpening.
Usage Notes
This verb is often used in informal contexts, especially when describing someone who is wasting time or relying on others for support. Common collocations include 蹭饭 (cèng fàn - to freeload a meal) and 蹭网 (cèng wǎng - to use someone's Wi-Fi). Be mindful of the informal tone when using it.
HSK Study Tips
蹭 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary but is relevant for learners at an intermediate level. Understanding this word can help students grasp colloquial expressions and slang, building their capacity for everyday conversations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蹭 with similar verbs like 走 (zǒu - to walk), mistakenly using it in contexts where they should use a different verb. For example, saying 蹭去商店 (cèng qù shāngdiàn) instead of 走去商店 (zǒu qù shāngdiàn) to mean 'walk to the store' is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蹭
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Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 曾 represents the sound.
1The meaning half足 carries the sense.
2The sound half曾 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 蹭? 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 蹭?
Decomposition of 蹭
IDS Structure⿰足曾
蹭Full Character
=
足ju4
left
曾ceng2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 蹭?
How to say to shuffle; to procrastinate, to freeload, to dilly-dally in Chinese
“to shuffle; to procrastinate, to freeload, to dilly-dally” in Chinese is蹭cèng
The character 蹭 (cèng) primarily means to shuffle or rub against something. It can also imply procrastination or lingering aimlessly, often with a connotation of freeloading or taking advantage of others. In everyday contexts, it can refer to someone who is slow to act or is hanging around without a clear purpose.
When to use 蹭
This verb is often used in informal contexts, especially when describing someone who is wasting time or relying on others for support. Common collocations include 蹭饭 (cèng fàn - to freeload a meal) and 蹭网 (cèng wǎng - to use someone's Wi-Fi). Be mindful of the informal tone when using it.
蹭 or something close to it
蹭 (cèng) vs 磨 (mó) — choose 蹭 when emphasizing aimless lingering or freeloading, while 磨 focuses on grinding or sharpening.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 蹭 with similar verbs like 走 (zǒu - to walk), mistakenly using it in contexts where they should use a different verb. For example, saying 蹭去商店 (cèng qù shāngdiàn) instead of 走去商店 (zǒu qù shāngdiàn) to mean 'walk to the store' is incorrect.
Write 蹭
蹭
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Practice writing 蹭 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 蹭
蹭 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.
