踉

liáng, liàng
良 + 𧾷

Definitions

liáng used in 跳踉[tiào liáng]
liàng used in 踉蹌|踉跄[liàng qiàng]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 良 represents the sound.

Semantic: 足 Phonetic: 良

About

踉 is a phonosemantic compound, with the foot radical 足 on the left indicating the semantic field of movement, stepping, or leg actions, and the phonetic 良 on the right supplying the sound. In its principal reading liàng, the character occurs almost exclusively in the compound 踉跄, which depicts a staggering, stumbling walk brought on by drink, injury, or haste. A distinct reading liáng, however, appears in words for leaping, such as 跳踉, where it conveys a sudden skipping or bounding motion. Thus, 踉 carries two separate meanings, faltering gait and lively jumping, depending on the compound and pronunciation.

Example Sentences Hide

他走路踉踉跄跄。

Tā zǒulù liàngliàngqiàngqiàng.

He walks unsteadily.

老人踉跄地站起来。

Lǎorén liàngqiàng de zhàn qǐlái.

The old man staggered to his feet.

他喝醉了，踉跄着走路。

Tā hē zuì le, liàngqiàng zhe zǒulù.

He was drunk and staggered while walking.

小孩踉跄地跑向妈妈。

Xiǎohái liàngqiàng de pǎo xiàng māma.

The child stumbled running towards his mother.

黑暗中他踉跄了几步。

Hēi'àn zhōng tā liàngqiàng le jǐ bù.

In the darkness, he staggered a few steps.

他突然踉跄了一下。

Tā túrán liàngqiàng le yīxià.

He suddenly staggered.

尽管努力保持平衡，他还是踉跄了。

Jǐnguǎn nǔlì bǎochí pínghéng, tā háishì liàngqiàng le.

Despite trying to maintain balance, he still staggered.

在湿滑的路面上，他一个踉跄，差点摔倒。

Zài shīhuá de lùmiàn shàng, tā yī gè liàngqiàng, chàdiǎn shuāidǎo.

On the wet and slippery road, he staggered and almost fell.

Related Characters

Component: 良

食 娘 浪 粮 狼 酿 琅 锒 阆 莨 郞 稂 閬 㫰

Component: 𧾷

路 跟 跑 跳 距 跃 踪 践 跌 踏 跨 跪 踢 躁

Example Words

踉跄