Definitions

to stumble, to slip

Etymology phono-semantic

foot

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

(dá, corresponding to the traditional form ) is a phono-semantic compound. The semantic element is (zú, 'foot'), indicating actions performed by the feet, such as slipping, stumbling, or stepping quickly. The phonetic element is (dá), the simplified form of , which supplies the pronunciation. In practice, the character seldom appears in formal writing; it is most commonly found in colloquial compounds like 溜跶 (liū da), a widespread regional expression for taking a casual stroll. Thus, encompasses both sudden missteps and unhurried walking, having moved away from literary contexts into everyday spoken descriptions of pedestrian movement.