‘趟水’ (tāng shuǐ) is a verb meaning 'to wade in water' — to walk through shallow water, typically with legs submerged. The character 趟 (tāng) here functions as a verb meaning 'to step through or traverse', while 水 (shuǐ) means 'water'. Together, they form a compound verb describing the physical action of moving across water on foot, often in natural settings like streams, rivers, or flooded paths. It emphasizes motion and contact with water, not swimming or floating.

This term is commonly used in descriptive narratives about outdoor activities, rural life, or animal behavior — for example, when describing livestock crossing a stream or children playing in a shallow river during summer. It carries a neutral, slightly literary tone and is more frequent in spoken Mandarin than formal writing. Note that 趟 is pronounced tāng only in this compound; elsewhere (e.g., as a measure word for trips), it’s tàng.