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脚后跟 (jiǎo hòu gēn) — heel (of a foot); foothold (figurative)

Definition

Specifically the back of the foot (heel), not the foot as a whole. Figuratively used for 'foothold' in a position or career.

noun
heel (of a foot)foothold (figurative)

Examples

  • 脚后跟。
    Tā zǒu lù de shí hou jiǎo hòu gēn téng.
    His heel hurts when he walks.
  • 脚后跟。
    Zhè shuāng xié de jiǎo hòu gēn hěn yìng.
    The heel of these shoes is very hard.
  • 脚后跟。
    Tā zài gōng sī zhàn wěn le jiǎo hòu gēn.
    He has gotten a foothold in the company.

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jiǎofoot
后跟back heel
后hòuback跟gēnheel
偏正Modifier + head

脚, foot, 后, back, and 跟, heel, combine to mean the heel at the back 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.

Open 脚 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 後; 后 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 後 showed 夊 (foot) bound by 幺 (thread), a foot caught by a rope and lagging behind; the simplified 后 is a later abbreviation, and 后 also has a different meaning.

Open 后 →

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.

Open 跟 →
Appears in
Body Parts

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