步

bù

止 + 𣥂

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

bù (noun) step; pace

bù (verb) to walk; to march

bù (noun) stage; phase

Etymology

Pictograph of one foot in front of another, depicting footsteps.

About

步 (bù) is a pictograph of one foot in front of another, depicting footsteps. The upper component is 止 (zhǐ), originally a left foot, and the lower component represents a right foot; together they visually convey the continuous motion of walking. The original meaning refers to a step, pace, or stroll. Over time, this literal sense extended metaphorically to denote stages in a process, a sequence of events, and the rate of progress, linking physical steps to developmental phases.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我每天步行上班。

Wǒ měitiān bùxíng shàngbān.

I walk to work every day.

他步伐轻快地走路。

Tā bùfá qīngkuài de zǒulù.

He walks with light steps.

学习需要循序渐进的步骤。

Xuéxí xūyào xúnxù jiànjìn de bùzhòu.

Learning requires step-by-step procedures.

科技在不断地进步。

Kējì zài bùduàn de jìnbù.

Technology is constantly progressing.

为了健康，我决定每天散步半小时。

Wèile jiànkāng, wǒ juédìng měitiān sànbù bàn xiǎoshí.

For health, I decided to take a walk for half an hour every day.

如果你跟不上团队的步伐，就需要更加努力。

Rúguǒ nǐ gēn bù shàng tuánduì de bùfá, jiù xūyào gèngjiā nǔlì.

If you can't keep up with the team's pace, you need to work harder.

经济发展与环境保护必须同步进行。

Jīngjì fāzhǎn yǔ huánjìng bǎohù bìxū tóngbù jìnxíng.

Economic development and environmental protection must proceed simultaneously.

在制定计划时，每一个步骤都需要仔细考虑，以确保最终成功。

Zài zhìdìng jìhuà shí, měi yīgè bùzhòu dōu xūyào zǐxì kǎolǜ, yǐ quèbǎo zuìzhōng chénggōng.

When making a plan, every step needs careful consideration to ensure final success.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 止

Component: 𣥂

Example Words