蹭

cèng

曾 + 𧾷

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

cèng to rub against; to walk slowly; (coll.) to freeload

Etymology

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

Semantic: 足 Phonetic: 曾

About

蹭 is a phono-semantic compound: the left side, 足 (foot), signals a physical action, while the right side, 曾, gives the sound. Originally it meant a sluggish, scraping motion, to rub against a surface or drag one's feet. In modern colloquial usage, it has taken on the prevalent meaning of freeloading, i.e., piggybacking on someone else's resources, fame, or internet connection without contributing anything in return.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

别蹭我的网。

Bié cèng wǒ de wǎng.

Don't piggyback on my Wi-Fi.

他经常来我家蹭饭。

Tā jīngcháng lái wǒ jiā cèng fàn.

He often comes to my place to get a free meal.

小猫喜欢蹭我的腿。

Xiǎo māo xǐhuan cèng wǒ de tuǐ.

The kitten likes to rub against my leg.

小心别蹭脏了新衣服。

Xiǎoxīn bié cèng zàng le xīn yīfu.

Be careful not to get your new clothes dirty.

他上车时蹭到了车门。

Tā shàngchē shí cèng dào le chēmén.

He scraped against the car door when getting in.

他只是想蹭个免费的热度。

Tā zhǐshì xiǎng cèng ge miǎnfèi de rèdù.

He just wants to get some free publicity by riding on the trend.

她巧妙地蹭了下话题，表达了自己的观点。

Tā qiǎomiào de cèng le xià huàtí, biǎodá le zìjǐ de guāndiǎn.

She skillfully piggybacked on the topic to express her own viewpoint.

他总想蹭别人的资源，却从不付出。

Tā zǒng xiǎng cèng biérén de zīyuán, què cóng bù fùchū.

He always wants to freeload off others' resources but never contributes anything himself.

Related Characters

Component: 曾

Component: 𧾷

蹭