Word

跑龙套 (pǎo lóng tào) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

Meaning of 跑龙套

短语 duǎn yǔ phrase

play a walk-on role; be an extra

他刚开始跑龙套，后来成了大明星。

tā gāng kāi shǐ pǎo lóng tào hòu lái chéng le dà míng xīng

He started out playing walk-on roles, and later became a big star.

Word breakdown

跑 pǎo — to perform, to do (the action of performing)

1 跑步 pǎo bù — to run HSK 2
- 跑 run (the action of moving quickly)
- 步 step (indicating movement by steps)
Example

我每天早上都去跑步。

wǒ měi tiān zǎo shang dōu qù pǎo bù

I go running every morning.
2 跑道 pǎo dào — track; runway HSK 5
- 跑 run, running (action component)
- 道 path, track, lane (surface/location component)
Example

运动员在跑道上练习跑步。

yùn dòng yuán zài pǎo dào shàng liàn xí pǎo bù

Athletes practice running on the track.
3 奔跑 bēn pǎo — to run HSK 6
- 奔 rush, dash forward
- 跑 run (leg movement)
Example

孩子们在操场上奔跑。

hái zi men zài cāo chǎng shàng bēn pǎo

The children are running on the playground.
4 逃跑 táo pǎo — to run away, to flee HSK 6
- 逃 to escape, to flee
- 跑 to run
Example

小偷看到警察就逃跑了。

xiǎo tōu kàn dào jǐng chá jiù táo pǎo le

The thief ran away when he saw the police.
5 赛跑 sài pǎo — to race HSK 7
- 赛 compete, contest
- 跑 run
Example

孩子们在公园里赛跑。

háizi men zài gōng yuán lǐ sài pǎo

The children are racing in the park.

龙 lóng — dragon (part of 龙套, referring to dragon-patterned costumes)

1 恐龙 kǒng lóng — dinosaur HSK 7
- 恐 terrible, fearsome
- 龙 dragon, large reptile
Example

博物馆里有很多恐龙化石。

bó wù guǎn lǐ yǒu hěn duō kǒng lóng huà shí

There are many dinosaur fossils in the museum.
2 来龙去脉 lái lóng qù mài — the ins and outs HSK 7
- 来 coming; the origin or source
- 龙 dragon; dragon veins (feng shui concept)
- 去 going; the result or outcome
- 脉 veins; the connecting thread or continuity
Example

他详细地解释了事情的来龙去脉。

tā xiáng xì de jiě shì le shì qing de lái lóng qù mài

He explained the ins and outs of the matter in detail.
3 水龙头 shuǐ lóng tóu — faucet HSK 7
- 水 water
- 龙 dragon (metaphor for flowing water)
- 头 head, spout (the outlet)
Example

他打开水龙头洗手。

tā dǎ kāi shuǐ lóng tóu xǐ shǒu

He turned on the faucet to wash his hands.
4 沙龙 shā lóng — salon HSK 7
- 沙 phonetic component representing 'sa' sound from French 'salon'
- 龙 phonetic component representing 'lon' sound from French 'salon'
Example

她经常参加文学沙龙。

tā jīng cháng cān jiā wén xué shā lóng

She often attends literary salons.
5 画龙点睛 huà lóng diǎn jīng — to add the finishing touch HSK 7
- 画 to paint, to draw
- 龙 dragon (the subject being painted)
- 点 to dot, to add a crucial detail
- 睛 eyeball, pupil (the finishing detail that brings life)
Example

这句话为文章画龙点睛，让主题更加突出。

zhè jù huà wèi wén zhāng huà lóng diǎn jīng ràng zhǔ tí gèng jiā tū chū

This sentence adds the finishing touch to the article, making the theme more prominent.

套 tào — suit, costume (completes 龙套, the costume worn by extras)

1 外套 wài tào — coat HSK 4
- 外 outer, external
- 套 covering, garment
Example

天气冷了，你应该穿外套。

tiān qì lěng le nǐ yīng gāi chuān wài tào

The weather is cold, you should wear a coat.
2 手套 shǒu tào — glove HSK 5
- 手 hand
- 套 cover, case
Example

冬天很冷，我需要戴手套。

dōng tiān hěn lěng wǒ xū yào dài shǒu tào

Winter is very cold, I need to wear gloves.
3 套餐 tào cān — combo meal HSK 6
- 套 set, package (indicates a bundled offering)
- 餐 meal (the type of product being offered)
Example

午餐套餐包括汤和饮料。

wǔ cān tào cān bāo kuò tāng hé yǐn liào

The lunch combo includes soup and drinks.
4 配套 pèi tào — to form a complete set; complementary; supporting facilities HSK 6
- 配 to match; to coordinate
- 套 set; complete series
Example

这个小区的配套设施很完善。

zhè ge xiǎo qū de pèi tào shè shī hěn wán shàn

The supporting facilities of this residential area are very complete.
5 圈套 quān tào — trap HSK 7
- 圈 circle, enclosure (the surrounding or ensnaring aspect)
- 套 snare, device (the mechanism or scheme aspect)
Example

他掉进了骗子的圈套。

tā diào jìn le piàn zi de quān tào

He fell into the swindler's trap.

Structure & writing

1 跑 pǎo — to run, to move forward by leaping with legs alternately

跑 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 足 zú — foot; leg

足 is a component in 29 characters

HSK 2

跑 pǎo to run, to move forward by leaping with legs alternately 跟 gēn heel (of the foot or shoe/sock) 路 lù road; path for travel 跳 tiào to jump; to leap 踢 tī to kick

HSK 4

距 jù spur (the bony protrusion on the leg of a rooster or pheasant)

HSK 5

促 cù short (of time) 践 jiàn to tread on; to step on 蹈 dǎo to tread on; to trample

HSK 6

捉 zhuō to grip; to grasp 跃 yuè to leap; to jump 跌 diē to fall down; to tumble 跪 guì to kneel; to bend the knees so that one or both touch the ground 踏 tà to step on; to go to a place in person

Show more HSK 6 characters (+3)

踩 cǎi to step on; to tread on 踪 zōng footprint; track; trace left by a person or animal 蹲 dūn to squat (legs bent, buttocks not touching the ground)

HSK 7

趴 pā to lie face down 跤 jiāo a fall; a tumble 跨 kuà to stride; take a big step forward or sideways 跷 qiāo to raise (a leg); to stick up (a finger) 踊 yǒng to leap upward

Show more HSK 7 characters (+7)

踹 chuài to kick outward with the sole of the foot 蹊 qī strange, suspicious, contrary to reason (used in 蹊跷) 蹋 tà to tread on; to step on 蹦 bèng to jump with both feet together; to leap 蹬 dēng to tread on, stamp; push down with the foot 蹭 cèng to rub; to scrape 躁 zào irritable; impetuous; prone to acting on emotion

1.2 包 bāo — to wrap (something) with paper, cloth, etc.

包 is a component in 9 characters

HSK 2

跑 pǎo to run, to move forward by leaping with legs alternately

HSK 3

饱 bǎo full (after eating); satiated (opposite of hungry)

HSK 4

抱 bào to embrace with arms, to hug

HSK 6

泡 pào bubble (spherical or hemispherical body formed by gas in liquid) 胞 bāo placenta and fetal membranes

HSK 7

刨 páo to dig or excavate by striking downward with a pick, hoe, etc. 炮 pào cannon; artillery piece (caliber above 2 cm, firing shells; includes mortars, howitzers, cannons, anti-aircraft guns, etc.) 袍 páo long robe; gown 雹 báo hail; balls or chunks of ice formed by condensation in the atmosphere, often falling with heavy rain, causing damage

Stroke order

2 龙 lóng — dragon (a legendary creature in Chinese mythology with a long body, scales, and horns, capable of walking, flying, and swimming; in modern paleontology, refers to some reptiles with limbs and tails)

龙 is a component in 9 characters

HSK 5

宠 chǒng to dote on; to indulge with excessive affection (often from a superior to an inferior)

HSK 6

庞 páng large (in size or quantity) 笼 lóng cage or basket made of bamboo, wood, or wire for holding birds, animals, or objects

HSK 7