Definitions
(verb)
to step on; to tread on
(noun)
shoe
Etymology
Depicts a person (頁) using their foot (夂) to tread. 眉 was later added to embellish the character and to represent the sound while a component that depicts a shoe was also later added to 夂 (foot) to emphasize another meaning "shoes". The component that depicts a shoe was later reanalyzed as meaning component 彳 (walk).
About
The character "履" originally meant to tread on or to walk upon something, and this meaning is reflected in its structure which combines the radical "尸", often related to the body, with the component "復", suggesting repetition or return, possibly alluding to the repeated action of stepping. Over time, the meaning extended from the act of treading to the object that is trod upon, namely shoes or footwear, becoming the primary signification. This semantic shift is evident in classical texts where the character can denote both the action and the object. The character maintained this form in its traditional version, with its structure clearly linking the concept of the foot's motion to its covering, and both the verbal and nominal meanings continue to be used in modern language, as seen in words like "履历" (curriculum vitae, literally a record of steps) and "革履" (leather shoes).
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他履行了承诺。
我的履历很完整。
履带车在野外行驶。
他即将履新职。
双方必须履行合同条款。
她的步履轻盈而优雅。
法官履行法律赋予的职责。
在复杂环境中履行使命是一项挑战。