蹶 (jué) - To stumble, fall & to fail, suffer a setback

蹶Tone 2

jué ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

傑君

蹶 · jué

To stumble, fall;

to fail, suffer a setback;

to exhaust, use up;

also refers to kicking or stubbornness in certain contexts.

To stumble, fallto fail, suffer a setbackto exhaust, use up

Usage highlights

To stumble and fallTo suffer a setbackStubborn and obstinateTo kickTo exhaust resourcesTo fail in an enterprise

Synonyms

  • 跌— to fall, stumble
  • 绊— to trip, stumble
  • 败— to fail, be defeated

Antonyms

  • 立— to stand, establish
  • 成— to succeed, accomplish
  • 兴— to prosper, flourish

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He stumbled on the uneven road (在崎岖的路上蹶了一跤).
  • The company suffered a major financial setback (公司遭受了重大财务蹶折).
  • Don't be stubborn and refuse to listen to advice (不要蹶犟不听劝).

Collocations

  • To stumble and fall(蹶倒)
  • To suffer a setback(蹶折)
  • Stubborn and obstinate(蹶犟)
  • To kick(蹶蹄)
  • To exhaust resources(蹶竭)
  • To fail in an enterprise(一蹶不振)

Idioms

  • Unable to recover after a setback(一蹶不振)
  • Rise repeatedly after repeated falls(屡蹶屡起)
  • The donkey kicks out in desperation(黔驴蹶蹄)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used metaphorically for career or financial failures in classical Chinese texts.
  • Appears in military strategy texts describing defeated armies or failed campaigns.
  • The character combines the foot radical with a component suggesting abrupt movement or reversal.

FAQ