踬 (zhì) - To stumble & to trip

踬Tone 4

zhì ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

志

踬 · zhì

To stumble;

to trip;

to be obstructed or hindered;

to suffer a setback.

To stumbleto tripto be obstructed or hindered

Usage highlights

To stumble and fallTo be hindered and unable to advanceTo trip over an obstacleA stumbling blockTo suffer repeated setbacksTo be frustrated and fail

Synonyms

  • 绊— to trip over, to stumble
  • 跌— to fall, to tumble
  • 阻— to obstruct, to hinder

Antonyms

  • 顺— smooth, successful
  • 畅— unobstructed, fluent

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He stumbled on the uneven path (在崎岖小路上踬了一下).
  • The project was hindered by unforeseen difficulties (项目因意外困难而踬躅不前).
  • Many great men have stumbled in their careers (许多伟人在事业上都曾颠踬).

Collocations

  • To stumble and fall(踬仆)
  • To be hindered and unable to advance(踬碍)
  • To trip over an obstacle(踬跲)
  • A stumbling block(踬石)
  • To suffer repeated setbacks(屡踬)
  • To be frustrated and fail(颠踬)

Idioms

  • To stumble at every step(跋前踬后)
  • To trip over a threshold(踬门)
  • To be frustrated and unable to succeed(踬踣)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used metaphorically in classical literature to describe political or personal setbacks.
  • The character appears in historical texts describing military or strategic failures due to obstacles.
  • Reflects a traditional view of life's path as fraught with potential stumbling blocks.

FAQ