躍

Core senses include leaping, jumping, or springing. In contexts of play or celebration, this extends to bounding, gamboling, or frolicking. Metaphorically, it is used to describe sudden emotional jolts (e.g., a heart that "leaps" with anxiety, fear, or excitement).

Primarily a verb of motion; can be used intransitively (the act of leaping) or transitively (leaping over an obstacle). In later classical contexts, it may appear in compounds meaning to progress rapidly or to bypass a step in a sequence.

While often interchangeable with 跳, 躍 typically suggests greater power, distance, or purpose. It conveys a "springing" motion—often associated with suddenness, alarm, or spirited energy—whereas 跳 can be more generic or small-scale.

Fanqie reading: 以灼; Tang-period reading: iɑk. Variants include U+8DAF (semantic) and U+8DC3 (simplified).