Definitions

pán used in 蹣跚|蹒跚[pán shān]; Taiwan pr. [mán]

Etymology phono-semantic

foot

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "蹒", originally written in its traditional form as "蹣", is constructed from the semantic radical "足" (foot), which categorizes it as related to movement or the feet, combined with the phonetic component "㒼" (mán), which historically suggested its pronunciation. Its core meaning, derived from this structure, pertains to an impaired or halting gait. Over time, the specific meaning of limping or walking with difficulty broadened to encompass any slow, unsteady, or shuffling movement, as seen in the modern compound "蹒跚" (pánshān), which describes walking unsteadily.

Example Sentences Hide

他走路跚。

Tā zǒulù pánshān.

He walks unsteadily.

小孩跚学步。

Xiǎohái pánshān xuébù.

The child toddles while learning to walk.

他慢慢地跚前行。

Tā mànman de pánshān qiánxíng.

He slowly staggers forward.

因为腿伤,他走路跚。

Yīnwèi tuǐshāng, tā zǒulù pánshān.

Because of a leg injury, he walks unsteadily.

那个醉汉跚地穿过街道。

Nàge zuìhàn pánshān de chuānguò jiēdào.

That drunkard staggered across the street.

在黑暗中,他跚着摸索前进。

Zài hēi'àn zhōng, tā pánshānzhe mōsuǒ qiánjìn.

In the darkness, he staggered and groped forward.

尽管疲惫不堪,他仍然跚着向终点走去。

Jǐnguǎn píbèi bùkān, tā réngrán pánshānzhe xiàng zhōngdiǎn zǒu qù.

Despite being exhausted, he still staggered towards the finish line.

在风雨交加的夜晚,那位老人跚地独自回家。

Zài fēngyǔ jiāojiā de yèwǎn, nà wèi lǎorén pánshān de dúzì huí jiā.

On a stormy night, the old man staggered home alone.