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践踏 (jiàn tà) — to trample (literally, on grass, crops, ground, etc.); to trample (figuratively, on rights, dignity, law, etc.)

Definition

Means 'to trample' in both literal (grass, crops) and figurative (rights, dignity) senses — a stronger, more literary verb than 踩, and harsher than 踏 (which is neutral 'to step on'). Use it when the action is deliberate and destructive.

verb
to trample (literally, on grass, crops, ground, etc.)to trample (figuratively, on rights, dignity, law, etc.)

Examples

  • 践踏。
    Bié zài cǎo dì shàng jiàn tà.
    Don't trample on the grass.
  • 践踏。
    Fǎ lǜ bù róng xǔ jiàn tà rén quán.
    The law does not allow trampling on human rights.
  • 践踏。
    Tā men jiàn tà le gāng zhǒng xià de huā.
    They trampled the newly planted flowers.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

践jiàntread
踏tàtread

践 and 踏 both mean “tread,” so 践踏 means to trample something underfoot.

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 踐; 践 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
足足zúfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
戔
戔jiān踐jiàn
Same sound today

The traditional form 踐 pairs 足 (foot) with 戔, which gives the sound; some also read 戔 as "small," so the shape pictures walking in small steps. The simplified 践 is only a shorter form.

Open 践 →

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
沓
沓tà踏
Same sound today

踏 has 足 (foot) as its left part to show a foot-related meaning, and 沓 as its right part to give the sound.

Open 踏 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6

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