踏平 (tà píng) — to stamp flat, to trample down | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

踏平 (tàpíng) means to trample or smash something flat, used literally (grass, land) and figuratively (overcoming obstacles). Pairs with 把 to mark the affected object.

verb

to stamp flatto trample down

Examples

踏平。
Tā bǎ cǎo dì tà píng le.
He trampled the grass flat.
踏平。
Hóng shuǐ bǎ zhěng gè cūn zhuāng tà píng le.
The flood flattened the entire village.
踏平。
Rén men jué xīn bǎ kùn nan tà píng.
The people are determined to overcome all difficulties.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

The result comes from 踏, treading, until something becomes 平, flat.

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

足足zúfoot

Sound part声符shēngfú

沓

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.

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

八八bādivision
亏亏kuīexhaled air

The origin is uncertain. One explanation combines 八 (division) and 亏 (exhaled air) to show smooth speech.

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