躓 (zhì) - To stumble & to trip

躓Tone 4

zhì ｜ 22 strokes ｜ radical:

志

躓 · zhì

To stumble;

to trip;

to encounter obstacles or setbacks;

to be hindered or frustrated in one's progress.

To stumbleto tripto encounter obstacles or setbacks

Usage highlights

To stumble and fallTo encounter obstaclesTo be frustrated in official careerA stumbling blockTo trip over a wordHindered and unable to advance

Synonyms

  • 绊— to trip over; to stumble
  • 跌— to fall; to tumble
  • 挫— to frustrate; to setback

Antonyms

  • 顺— smooth; successful
  • 畅— unobstructed; fluent
  • 达— to reach; to achieve

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He stumbled on the uneven path (在崎岖小路上蹒跚躓踣).
  • The project encountered unexpected difficulties (项目进展中屡遭躓碍).
  • A baby learning to walk will stumble frequently (学步的婴儿会经常躓倒).
  • His career was hindered by political struggles (他的仕途因党争而屡屡受躓).

Collocations

  • To stumble and fall(躓仆)
  • To encounter obstacles(躓碍)
  • To be frustrated in official career(仕途躓踬)
  • A stumbling block(躓石)
  • To trip over a word(言辞躓涩)
  • Hindered and unable to advance(躓滞不前)

Idioms

  • To stumble at the threshold(一蹴而躓)
  • To advance without stumbling(跋前躓后)
  • Stumbling and struggling forward(躓踣而行)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted the physical act of stumbling, later extended metaphorically to career setbacks and difficulties in life.
  • Often used in classical texts to describe the frustrations of scholars and officials in their careers.
  • The character appears in historical texts describing military defeats or political failures.

FAQ