Chinese word

步

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù

Meaning

  • nounstep

Example

他向前迈了一步。tā xiàng qián mài le yí bù

He took a step forward.

Illustration for 步 (step)

More examples

他在比赛中突然后退了一步。tā zài bǐ sài zhōng tū rán hòu tuì le yí bù

He suddenly stepped back during the competition.

Core concept

A measured advance: one movement of the feet, one span covered, or one point reached in progress.

Common phrases

  • 第一步dì yí bù

    first step

  • 后退一步hòu tuì yí bù

    step backward

Similar words

阶段jiē duàn: A period or point in the course of development or change.
步骤bù zhòu: An ordered action used to complete a task or process.
进展jìn zhǎn: The amount or state of progress made in an activity or process.

Definition in Chinese

表示行走时的一次迈步或该次迈步的长度，也常用来指某一阶段、步骤或进展。biǎo shì xíng zǒu shí de yí cì mài bù huò gāi cì mài bù de cháng dù yě cháng yòng lái zhǐ mǒu yì jiē duàn bù zhòu huò jìn zhǎn

Word origin

The character 步 (bù, "step") represents feet moving in sequence, which naturally connects a walking unit with a measured advance in an activity.

Usage tips

  • When plans are discussed, this word often helps organize actions in order, so recognizing it as a progress marker helps parse short conversational phrases.

Other meanings

  • stagenoun
  • stridenoun

Opposites

  • 退步tuì bùregressionnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word