脚跟 (jiǎo gēn) — heel (of the foot); footing, foothold (figurati… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literally 'heel' (of the foot), most often used figuratively in the set phrase 站稳脚跟 ('gain a firm footing'). Refers to one's standing or position, not a physical injury to the heel.

noun

heel (of the foot)footingfoothold (figurative)

Measure word · 只

Examples

脚跟。
Tā de jiǎo gēn shòu shāng le.
His heel was injured.
脚跟。
Nǐ yào zài shì chǎng shàng zhàn wěn jiǎo gēn.
You need to stand firm in the market.
脚跟。
Xīn gōng sī zhèng zài nǔ lì zhàn wěn jiǎo gēn.
The new company is striving to secure its foothold.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

脚 means foot and 跟 means heel, so the meaning is the heel of the foot.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 腳; 脚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat, body

Sound part声符shēngfú

卻

卻què腳jiǎo

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 腳 uses ⺼ for a body part and 卻 for the sound; the simplified 脚 is a later shorthand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

足足zúfoot

Sound part声符shēngfú

艮

艮gèn跟gēn

Same sound today

跟 is built from 足 (foot) plus 艮. The 足 part ties the character to foot-related senses, while 艮 gives the sound.

Appears in

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