The word "脚步" is formed through a direct and conceptual combination of its two component characters: "脚" (jiǎo), meaning "foot", and "步" (bù), meaning "step" or "pace". It is not merely a sum of its parts but a fusion where the physical instrument (the foot) and its action (taking a step) merge to create a new, integrated concept. This concept encompasses the complete act and sound of walking, the rhythm, the movement, and the progression, effectively evoking the idea of a footfall or one's pace and momentum in a journey, whether literal or metaphorical.