窜

• Pinyin: cuàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 窜 = 穴 (hole, cave) + 串 (string, dart through)

Meaning

To flee; to scurry; to dart. A verb describing rapid, often furtive movement, typically by animals or people fleeing.

Often used for animals running around quickly (mice, rats) or people fleeing in panic or guilt. Can imply negative connotation of furtive, underhanded movement. Also used in 窜改 (to tamper/falsify).

Examples

1. 一只老鼠从墙角窜出来，吓了她一跳。 A mouse scurried out from the corner of the wall and startled her.
2. 歹徒见势不妙，慌忙向后门窜去。 Seeing things weren't going well, the criminal hurriedly fled toward the back door.
3. 火苗窜上了屋顶，消防员们紧急扑救。 Flames shot up onto the roof, and firefighters rushed to extinguish them.

Usage Guide

Context: movement, animals, fleeing

Tone: vivid

Do Say

• 那条狗窜到街对面去了。(That dog darted across to the other side of the street.)
• 火焰窜得很高。(The flames shot up very high.)

Don't Say

• 他优雅地窜出房间 (Contradictory — 窜 implies frantic, undignified movement, not elegance)

Origin & History

Contains 穴 (cave/hole) suggesting something emerging rapidly from hiding. Originally depicted rats emerging from holes.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal