蹶

The glyph centers on a sudden, violent loss of stability. It operates in two primary directions:

1. Intransitive: To stumble, trip, collapse, or fall suddenly.

2. Transitive: To knock down, throw, or trample underfoot.

Directionality is generally determined by the presence of an object:

• Without an object: Indicates a failure of footing (stumbling/collapsing).
• With an object: Indicates the imposition of force upon another’s footing (knocking down/trampling).

Unlike 跌 (to tumble/fall), which can imply a clumsy or rolling motion, 蹶 suggests an abrupt cessation of forward momentum—a sharp break or a violent jolt.

• Semantic variant: U+8E77.
• Readings: Fanqie 居衛, 居月, 紀劣; Tang-period giuæt.

In equestrian or military contexts, this glyph frequently refers to a horse throwing its rider or the animal collapsing. Because the term often collapses the distinction between the horse falling and the rider being bucked, the translator must rely on the surrounding narrative to determine which occurred.