轻手轻脚 (qīng shǒu qīng jiǎ) — to move quietly and carefully; to be stealthy

Definition

An idiom meaning to move quietly and gently, often to avoid disturbing or being noticed. Typically used as an adverbial (轻手轻脚地) before a verb, describing careful, soft-footed actions.

idiom
to move quietly and carefullyto be stealthy

Examples

  • 轻手轻脚，。
    Mā ma qīng shǒu qīng jiǎ dì zǒu jìn fáng jiān, pà chǎo dào bǎo bao.
    Mom walked quietly into the room, afraid of disturbing the baby.
  • 轻手轻脚，。
    Tā qīng shǒu qīng jiǎ dì guān shàng mén, bù xiǎng ràng bié rén tīng jiàn.
    He closed the door softly, not wanting others to hear.
  • ，轻手轻脚，。
    Tú shū guǎn lǐ, měi gè rén dōu qīng shǒu qīng jiǎ dì zǒu lù, bǎo chí ān jìng.
    In the library, everyone walks quietly to maintain silence.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

轻手light hands
轻qīnglight手shǒuhand
偏正Modifier + head
轻脚light feet
轻qīnglight脚jiǎofoot
偏正Modifier + head

轻手 and 轻脚 combine as light hands and light feet, describing quiet movement.

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 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng輕qīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

手 draws a five-fingered human hand: the top line is a bent middle finger, and the horizontal lines show the other four fingers.

Open 手 →

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 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng輕qīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →

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 →

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