跚 (shān): to limp

Meanings

1 to limp
2 to walk unsteadily

Characters

跚

shān

to limp (in 蹒跚)

Examples

HSK 7-9

受伤的士兵蹒跚着一步步向前。

Shòushāng de shìbīng pánshān zhe yíbùbù xiàngqián.

The wounded soldier limped forward, step by step.

HSK 7-9

喝完酒，他步履蹒跚地走回家。

Hē wán jiǔ, tā bùlǚ pánshān de zǒu huí jiā.

After drinking, he walked home with an unsteady, limping gait.

Tips

usage

跚 is a bound character: it appears only in 蹒跚 (to walk unsteadily). It has no standalone meaning of its own.

Components

radical

足 zú

foot

The foot radical, marking 跚 as a manner of walking. It is the reason this character describes a faltering, unsteady step.

phonetic

册 cè

book; volume of bound slips

Supplies the sound, cè shifting to shān. Its 'bound bamboo slips' meaning plays no part; it works only as the phonetic half.

Stroke Order

跚 shān

Related Words

步履蹒跚 bùlǚ-pánshān

to walk unsteadily (idiom) / to hobble along; to totter

步态蹒跚 bùtài-pánshān

to walk unsteadily / to stagger / totter (often of an old or injured person, or someone drunk)

蹒跚 pánshān #24,272

to stagger / to totter / to toddle

遛 liù HSK 7-9 #8,308

to walk (a pet) / to stroll; to saunter / to take for a walk

何妨吟啸且徐行 héfáng yínxiào qiě xúxíng

why not chant and whistle as we slowly walk on? / (fig.) keep your composure and pace amid any storm / (lit.) what-harm to-chant-and-whistle and slowly-walk

上刀山 shàngdāoshān

to face extreme danger and hardship / to walk through fire; to climb a mountain of blades

快走 kuàizǒu

to walk briskly; to power-walk / hurry up and go! / get out of here quickly!

散步 sànbù HSK 3 #3,537

to take a walk; to go for a stroll

台步 táibù #4,710

stage walk / catwalk strut / gait on stage

走过 zǒuguò HSK 2 #5,269

to walk past / to pass by