跌
stumble
Strokes12
Readings
On'yomi
- テツ
Kun'yomi
- あやまつ
- つまず.く
Meaning
跌 centers on losing one's footing: stumbling or tripping. The idea is a sudden, unintended loss of balance while moving.
Most common words using 跌
- 蹉跌さてつ
failure; stumbling; setback
Study
Etymology
跌 combines 足 (foot) with 失 (lose), suggesting losing one's footing. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component combination fits the meaning well.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 足 means foot, and the right side 失 means lose. Picture a foot losing its grip on the ground, causing a stumble.
Reading mnemonic
For テツ, imagine a person stumbling on a metal tetsu (鉄) plate: tetsu -> テツ, and the foot loses its footing on the hard surface.