跳
tiào
The Chinese word for 'jump' is 跳 (tiào). Wiktionary also lists 蹦跳 (bèngtiào) and 蹦 (bèng).
Meaning: propel oneself rapidly upward such that momentum causes the body to become airborne (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 跳 | tiào |
| 蹦跳 | bèngtiào |
| 蹦 | bèng |
跳 is the most versatile and common way to say 'jump' in Chinese. It can be used for various types of jumping, such as jumping rope (跳绳) or jumping into water (跳水). It can also be used as a noun to mean an instance of propelling oneself into the air.
Which one should you use?
While 跳 refers to a single jump, 蹦跳 is often used to describe the continuous action of hopping or bouncing around playfully. The word 蹦 specifically emphasizes the springy, bouncing nature of a jump, often used for small, repetitive movements like a rabbit.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the term 跳 (tiu3) means jump.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate that a jump has been completed, you can add the aspect particle 了 after the verb 跳.
How do you pronounce it?
tiào
Did you know?
- The word 跳 is used in the common phrase 跳舞, which means 'to dance'. Literally, it describes the action of 'jumping' or 'leaping' through a dance.
- In Chinese, if someone's heart is beating fast due to nervousness or excitement, they say their heart is 跳, the same word used for jumping.
- The character 跳 contains the radical for 'foot', signifying that the action is performed by the lower limbs.
Examples in context
- 你能跳绳吗？Can you jump rope?This sentence is useful for asking about the ability to jump rope using 跳.Tatoeba #6091712 by verdastelo9604, translation #5195299 by CK
- 看看你能跳多高。See how high you can jump.This sentence is useful for seeing how high one can jump using 跳.Tatoeba #6147593 by verdastelo9604, translation #2744935 by sharptoothed
- 我不会让你跳下去的。I won't let you jump down.This sentence is useful for expressing that one won't let someone jump down using 跳.Tatoeba #13881405 by Suzumeya_Meiya, translation #13881459 by jan_OkulaJu
- 他跳下了高台。He jumped down from the high platform.
- 小明喜欢玩跳跃类游戏。Xiao Ming enjoys playing jumping games.
- 小朋友看到彩虹，高兴地跳起来了！The child saw a rainbow and jumped up happily!
- 他踩着树枝跳下了墙。He stepped onto a branch and jumped off the wall.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are playing in a park.
- 浩然 Haoran你看，我可以跳过这个水坑！Nǐ kàn, wǒ kěyǐ tiào guò zhège shuǐkēng!Look, I can jump over this puddle!
- 晓雯 Xiaowen小心点，浩然，别摔倒了。Xiǎoxīn diǎn, Hàorán, bié shuāidǎo le.Be careful, Haoran, don't fall.
- 浩然 Haoran没问题，我跳得很高。Méi wèntí, wǒ tiào de hěn gāo.No problem, I jump very high.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那我也试着跳一次。Nà wǒ yě shìzhe tiào yīcì.Then I will try to jump once too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “jump” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
