跛

Lame; characterized by an uneven gait.

Can function as:

1. Stative/Descriptive: To be lame (possessing a physical disability of the leg).

2. Active: To limp (to walk with an uneven stride).

3. Nominal: A lame person.

Contrast with 蹇 (//jiǎn//): while both describe impaired movement, 跛 typically remains literal and physical, whereas 蹇 frequently extends metaphorically to denote general hardship or social/political obstruction.

Avoid clinical modernizations (e.g., "mobility impairment"); in classical contexts, this glyph often serves as a narrative signifier or marker of identity. Determine from context whether the term describes a permanent condition or a temporary action.