TongTong
Sign in

起跳 (qǐ tiào) — (sports) to take off (in jumping or diving)

Definition

Sports term for the moment a jumper or diver pushes off the ground or board. A separable verb: insert measure words or complements between 起 and 跳 (起得高, 起一下).

verb
(sports) to take off (in jumping or diving)

Examples

  • 起跳。
    Tā zài bǐ sài zhōng qǐ tiào dé hěn gāo.
    He took off very high in the competition.
  • 起跳。
    Tiào shuǐ yùn dòng yuán bì xū zhǔn què qǐ tiào.
    The diving athlete must take off accurately.
  • 起跳。
    Nǐ qǐ tiào de shí hou yào yòng lì.
    You need to exert force when you take off.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

起qǐrise
跳tiàojump

起 means rise, 跳 means jump; together they picture leaving the ground for a jump.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
足足zúfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
兆
兆zhào跳tiào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

跳 pairs 足 (foot) with 兆, which supplies the sound; the foot part shows the action is done with the feet.

Open 跳 →
Appears in
Sports & Athletics

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.