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起脚 (qǐ jiǎ) — to start a run (in sports); to take off (for a jump or kick)

Definition

Sporting term for the moment a player starts a run-up or takes off for a kick/jump. Not a general-purpose verb — used in soccer, track and field, and similar contexts.

verb
to start a run (in sports)to take off (for a jump or kick)

Examples

  • ，起脚。
    Cái pàn yì chuī shào, tā lì kè qǐ jiǎ.
    As soon as the referee blew the whistle, he started his run.
  • 起脚，。
    Tā qǐ jiǎ tài zǎo, jié guǒ méi tī dào qiú.
    He took off too early and ended up missing the ball.
  • 起脚。
    Jiào liàn jiào wǒ men zhèng què de qǐ jiǎ zī shì.
    The coach taught us the correct starting posture.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

起qǐlift
脚jiǎofoot

起 means to lift or start and 脚 is the foot, so lifting the foot begins a move.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

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.

Open 脚 →
Appears in
Sports & Athletics

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