踨 (zōng) - Footprint, track, trace — an archaic character meaning

踨Tone 1

zōng ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

志

踨 · zōng

Footprint, track, trace — an archaic character meaning footprint or track, now largely obsolete and replaced by 踪.

Footprint, track, trace — an archaic character meaning

Usage highlights

FootprintsAnimal tracksTrace evidenceFollowing tracksLost track

Synonyms

  • 踪— footprint, track, trace
  • 迹— trace, mark, vestige
  • 脚印— footprint

Antonyms

  • 无迹— trackless, without trace

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Ancient footprints (踨迹) were found at the site.
  • Following the tracks (踨迹) of wild animals.
  • The detective looked for clues and traces (踨迹).

Collocations

  • Footprints(踨迹)
  • Animal tracks(兽踨)
  • Trace evidence(踨证)
  • Following tracks(寻踨)
  • Lost track(失踨)

Idioms

  • To follow someone's tracks(步其踨迹)
  • To disappear without a trace(杳无踨迹)
  • To track down meticulously(穷追踨迹)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 踨 is an ancient variant of 踪 (zōng), sharing the same meaning of footprint or trace.
  • The character appears in classical texts but fell out of common usage in modern Chinese.
  • It demonstrates the evolution of Chinese characters where simpler forms often replace more complex variants.

FAQ