蹬

dēng, dèng

登 + 𧾷

HSK 2.0Level 6

HSK 3.0Level 7

Frequency#3349

Definitions

dēng (verb) to step on; to tread on

dēng (verb) to wear (shoes)

Etymology

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

Semantic: 足 Phonetic: 登

About

The character "蹬" is structured with the semantic component "足" on the left, denoting foot-related actions, and the phonetic-semantic component "登" on the right, which originally conveyed the idea of ascending or stepping. Etymologically, "蹬" derived from this combination to specifically indicate the act of pressing down with the foot, such as treading or stomping. Over time, its meaning extended to include pedaling devices like bicycles and, in certain contexts, acquired figurative uses such as failing to uphold an agreement or letting someone down.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他用力蹬自行车。

Tā yònglì dēng zìxíngchē.

He pedaled the bicycle hard.

小男孩蹬掉了脚上的鞋子。

Xiǎo nánhái dēng diào le jiǎo shàng de xiézi.

The little boy kicked off the shoes on his feet.

她蹬着梯子爬上了屋顶。

Tā dēng zhe tīzi pá shàng le wūdǐng.

She stepped on the ladder and climbed onto the roof.

消防员猛地蹬开了紧闭的房门。

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蹬水前进。

Yùndòngyuán zài yǒngchí lǐ fènlì dēng shuǐ qiánjìn.

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

他气得用脚直蹬地，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.

蹬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.

登山者小心翼翼地蹬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.

Related Characters

Component: 登

Component: 𧾷

蹬