踢腿 (tī tuǐ) — to kick; to perform a kick (especially in dance… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A separable verb: 踢 'kick' + 腿 'leg'. Often used as a noun for the kick itself in dance, martial arts, or exercise — e.g. 练踢腿 ('practice kicks').

verb

to kickto perform a kick (especially in dance or martial arts)

Examples

踢腿。
Tā měi tiān liàn xí tī tuǐ.
He practices kicking every day.
，。
Tā tī le yí cì tuǐ, dòng zuò hěn biāo zhǔn.
He did a kick, and the movement was very standard.
，踢腿。
Wǔ shù kè shàng, lǎo shī jiào wǒ men tī tuǐ.
In martial arts class, the teacher taught us to kick.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

踢 is to kick and 腿 is the leg, so the action is directed at the leg.

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

易

易yì踢tī

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

踢 uses 足 (foot) to show the action is done with the foot, and 易 to give the sound.

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.

Appears in

Dance & Performance Sports & Athletics

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