Definitions

dēng (verb) to step on; to tread on
dēng (verb) to wear (shoes)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

This character is a phono-semantic compound formed with the radical ⻊/足 (zú, foot) and the phonetic component 登 (dēng, to ascend). The foot radical classifies it as a leg action, while the phonetic element suggests both pronunciation and the forceful motion of pushing or stepping to move upward. Its core meaning describes the physical exertion of pressing down or pushing away with the foot, as seen in pedaling a bicycle or kicking off a blanket.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他用力自行车。

Tā yònglì dēng zìxíngchē.

He pedaled the bicycle hard.

小男孩掉了脚上的鞋子。

Xiǎo nánhái dēng diào le jiǎo shàng de xiézi.

The little boy kicked off the shoes on his feet.

着梯子爬上了屋顶。

Tā dēng zhe tīzi pá shàng le wūdǐng.

She stepped on the ladder and climbed onto the roof.

消防员猛地开了紧闭的房门。

Xiāofángyuán měng de dēng kāi le jǐn bì de fángmén.

The firefighter forcefully kicked open the tightly closed door.

运动员在泳池里奋力水前进。

Yùndòngyuán zài yǒngchí lǐ fènlì dēng shuǐ qiánjìn.

The athlete vigorously kicked the water to move forward in the pool.

他气得用脚直地,却无可奈何。

Tā qì de yòng jiǎo zhí dēng dì, què wúkěnàihé.

He was so angry that he stomped his feet on the ground, but there was nothing he could do.

动感单车是很好的有氧运动。

Dēng gǎngǎn dānchē shì hěn hǎo de yǒuyǎng yùndòng.

Riding a spinning bike is excellent aerobic exercise.

登山者小心翼翼地着崖壁的缝隙向上攀爬。

Dēngshān zhě xiǎoxīn yìyì de dēng zhe yábì de fèngxì xiàngshàng pānpá.

The climber carefully stepped on the cracks in the cliff face to climb upward.