Definitions

cǎi (verb) to step on; to tread; to stamp
cǎi (verb) to press a pedal; to pedal (a bike)
cǎi (verb) to downvote

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 踩 is etymologically formed by combining the semantic component 足, which signifies the foot, with the phonetic component 采, indicating its pronunciation, creating a phono-semantic compound that directly associates the action with the lower limb. Its structural composition has remained consistent, preserving this clear relationship between meaning and sound throughout its documented history. While the core literal sense of exerting pressure with the foot has endured, the character's usage has gradually extended into figurative domains, such as in the expression 踩油门 for depressing a vehicle's accelerator or 踩点 for surveying a site in advance, reflecting an adaptive capacity within evolving linguistic contexts without altering its fundamental definition.

Example Sentences Hide

小心别到水坑。

Xiǎoxīn bié cǎi dào shuǐkēng.

Be careful not to step into the puddle.

到了我的鞋子。

Tā cǎi dào le wǒ de xiézi.

He stepped on my shoe.

我昨天死了一只虫子。

Wǒ zuótiān cǎi sǐ le yī zhī chóngzi.

I stepped on and killed a bug yesterday.

孩子们在草地上去。

Háizimen zài cǎodì shàng cǎi lái cǎi qù.

The children are stepping back and forth on the grass.

油门加速超过前车。

Cǎi yóumén jiāsù chāoguò qián chē.

Step on the gas pedal to accelerate and overtake the car ahead.

在松软的沙滩上感觉很好。

Cǎi zài sōngruǎn de shātān shàng gǎnjué hěn hǎo.

Stepping on the soft sandy beach feels great.

如果你到钉子,可能会受伤。

Rúguǒ nǐ cǎi dào dīngzi, kěnéng huì shòushāng.

If you step on a nail, you might get hurt.

在黑暗中被了一脚,他疼得大叫起来。

Zài hēi'àn zhōng bèi cǎi le yī jiǎo, tā téng de dà jiào qǐlái.

He was stepped on in the dark and cried out in pain.