The word 步骤 (bùzhòu), meaning "step" (as in a procedure), is a disyllabic compound noun formed by combining two characters with related meanings. The first character, 步 (bù), originally depicted two feet and means "step" or "pace". The second character, 骤 (zhòu), carries the meaning of "quick" or "sudden" but in this context emphasizes a sequence or a move in a process. When combined, 步 provides the core concept of a discrete movement or stage, while 骤 reinforces the idea of a procedural sequence, together creating the modern sense of an ordered "step" in a method or plan. This formation exemplifies how many Chinese words evolve by pairing characters to refine and specify a broader conceptual field.