Definitions

niè to walk on tiptoe; to walk quietly; to tread (on); to follow

Etymology

To walk  quietly  also provides the pronunciation

About

The character '蹑', historically written as '躡' in its traditional form, combines the semantic radical '足', which relates to the foot, with the component '聂' serving primarily as a phonetic indicator while possibly evoking ideas of closeness or quiet association. Etymologically, this construction suggests actions of stepping or treading, inherently carrying a sense of lightness or caution. Over centuries, its meaning has consistently centered on gentle, stealthy movement, such as walking on tiptoe or following unobtrusively, and it has been employed in classical compounds to imply joining or ascending through careful, deliberate steps. The structural essence of the character has been preserved through its graphical developments, with the simplified form continuing to reflect these fundamental notions via its integrated components.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

脚地走进房间。

Tā nièshǒunièjiǎo de zǒu jìn fángjiān.

He tiptoed into the room.

小偷在黑暗中足前行。

Xiǎotōu zài hēi'àn zhōng nièzú qiánxíng.

The thief moved stealthily forward in the darkness.

她怕吵醒婴儿,只得着脚走路。

Tā pà chǎoxǐng yīng'ér, zhǐdé niè zhe jiǎo zǒulù.

Afraid of waking the baby, she had to walk on tiptoe.

脚地走到他身后,想吓他一跳。

Wǒ nièshǒunièjiǎo de zǒu dào tā shēnhòu, xiǎng xià tā yī tiào.

I crept up behind him on tiptoe, wanting to give him a fright.

侦察兵影追风,迅速接近了敌方据点。

Zhēnchábīng niè yǐng zhuī fēng, xùnsù jiējìn le dìfāng jùdiǎn.

The scout moved with lightning speed and stealth, quickly approaching the enemy stronghold.

他小心翼翼地着台阶下楼,生怕发出声响。

Tā xiǎoxīnyìyì de niè zhe táijiē xià lóu, shēng pà fāchū shēngxiǎng.

He carefully descended the stairs on tiptoe, afraid of making any sound.

探险者迹潜踪,深入丛林寻找古老的遗迹。

Tànxiǎn zhě niè jì qián zōng, shēnrù cónglín xúnzhǎo gǔlǎo de yíjì.

The explorer followed the trail stealthily, delving deep into the jungle in search of ancient ruins.

为了捕捉这转瞬即逝的灵感,他景追飞,迅速记录下每一个细节。

Wèile bǔzhuō zhè zhuǎnshùnjíshì de línggǎn, tā niè jǐng zhuī fēi, xùnsù jìlù xià měi yīgè xìjié.

To capture this fleeting inspiration, he pursued it with utmost speed and focus, quickly jotting down every detail.