Writing Balance Rule: The left side (disease radical 疒) forms a protective roof structure over the right phonetic component 卑, keeping both halves balanced in width.
1. Meaning
lame, limping
having a disabled leg or foot
AdjectiveNeutral#health#body#physical condition
Sample Usage
他的左腿有些瘸。
tā de zuǒ tuǐ yǒu xiē qué.
His left leg has a bit of a limp.
走路一瘸一拐的。
zǒu lù yī qué yī guǎi de.
Walking with a limp / hobbling along.
2. Sound
/[t͡ɕʰy̯e³⁵]/Tone: 35
瘸
quéque2
|
++
´(35)
=qué
Build the syllable
Step-by-step blending
que
Tone mark placement: Tone mark sits on "e" per main-vowel priority (a > e > o; in -iu/-ui the mark takes the second vowel).
Initial Consonant
q
Type: Aspirated Alveolo-Palatal
Sounds like: ch sound produced with strong aspiration
Aspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: Extremely strong burst of breath! Tissue held before mouth MUST fly.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Blade of the tongue touches the hard palate just behind the alveolar ridge, releasing air sharply.
Final Rhyme
ue
Vowel Group: -e vowel group
Sounds like: -ue rhymes with the ending of 'due' or French 'nuet'
Note: Written as 'ue', pronounced as rounded 'üe' [y].
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'üeh'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Abbreviated Rhyme Rule: ue is written as üe after q, x, j.
Tone
T2 (35)
3 → 5 (35)
2nd Tone (Mid-Rising)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 2 rises from middle pitch to high pitch, matching an inquiring voice tone in English.
👂
Listening trap: Do not confuse 'qué' (Tone 2, q- initial) with 'quē' (Tone 1, q- initial) or 'jué' (j- initial).
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: Tone 2 starts at a mid pitch and sweeps upward to a high pitch, like asking a surprised question 'What?!'
3. Writing
Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 16 strokes
Writing Balance Rule: The left side (disease radical 疒) forms a protective roof structure over the right phonetic component 卑, keeping both halves balanced in width.
Semantic Clue (形旁):疒 (indicates conditions related to bodily illness or injury)
Phonetic Clue (声旁):卑 (original sound: bēi / qué)
The sickness radical (疒) is attached to the phonetic component 卑 (low/inferior), indicating a body part lowered or compromised in function (lame).
疒 illness or physical affliction
卑 phonetic clue and sense of lowness
Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
15· Phonetic Root: 加 (jiā)
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)
Origin: Combined from the sickness/condition classifier 疒 and the sound component 卑 to denote a leg that cannot function at a high/normal level.
Semantic Evolution: Originally referred specifically to leg weakness or deformity, expanding to describe an uneven gait or anything limping metaphorically.
The 疒 radical is shared by many characters describing medical conditions, ailments, and physical weaknesses.
6. Sinosphere
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story
A person with a SICKNESS (疒) in their leg has to stay DOWN LOW (卑) because their foot is LAME (qué).
Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
加
jiāto add / plus / CanadaPhonetic Core (声旁)
咖
kācoffee+ 口 (mouth)
架
jiàframe, rack, to support+ 木 (tree)
驾
jiàto drive, to pilot, to ride, harness+ 马 (horse)