撒腿 (sā tuǐ) — to start running, to bolt (suddenly and quickly) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

撒腿 means 'to bolt / take off running' — emphasizes the sudden, explosive start of running, usually to flee or chase. Pairs with 就跑 (撒腿就跑) to stress immediacy.

verb

to start runningto bolt (suddenly and quickly)

Examples

，撒腿。
Kàn dào jǐng chá, xiǎo tōu sā tuǐ jiù pǎo.
Seeing the police, the thief took off running.
撒腿，。
Tā yì sā tuǐ, zhuǎn yǎn jiù bú jiàn le.
He bolted and disappeared in an instant.
。
Gǒu sā kāi tuǐ zhuī le shàng qù.
The dog took off its legs and chased after.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

撒sālet go

撒 means to let go and 腿 the legs; letting the legs go describes sudden running.

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.

扌散撒

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

散

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

撒 combines 扌 (hand) with 散, which gives the sound; the hand part shows scattering with the hand.

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

肉肉ròuflesh

Sound part声符shēngfú

退

退tuì腿tuǐ

Same sound today

The 肉 part is flesh, showing a body part; the 退 part gives the sound.

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