踞 (jù) - to crouch & to squat
踞 · jù
to crouch;
to squat;
to sit with legs spread apart (often in an arrogant or informal posture);
to occupy (a position) forcefully.
to crouchto squatto sit with legs spread apart (often in
Usage highlights
to crouch like a tigerdragon coils, tiger crouchesto squat and not moveto sit crossto occupy a strategic pointto squat defiantly
Usage & contexts
Examples
- The tiger crouched on the rock (老虎踞在岩石上).
- He sat with legs arrogantly spread (他踞坐).
- The rebels occupied the strategic pass (叛军踞守要隘).
- A dragon coils and a tiger crouches (龙盘虎踞).
Collocations
- to crouch like a tiger(虎踞)
- dragon coils, tiger crouches(龙盘虎踞)
- to squat and not move(踞守)
- to sit cross-legged(踞坐)
- to occupy a strategic point(踞险)
- to squat defiantly(箕踞)
Idioms
- A strategically located and difficult-to-access place(龙盘虎踞)
- To sit cross-legged defiantly(箕踞而坐)
- To occupy a place and refuse to budge(盘踞一方)
Cultural background
FAQ- In classical literature and military strategy, '踞' often describes a powerful, watchful, or defiant posture, as in a tiger crouching before a leap.
- The idiom '龙盘虎踞' (dragon coils, tiger crouches) is famously used to describe the strategic and imposing topography of Nanjing.
- The posture '箕踞' (sitting with legs stretched out and apart) was considered highly disrespectful in ancient etiquette, as it resembled the shape of a winnowing basket and showed a lack of decorum.