Chinese word

踏上

Pronunciation

Pinyintà shàng

Meaning

  • verbset out on

Example

他今天踏上了新的旅程。tā jīn tiān tà shàng le xīn de lǚ chéng

He set out on a new journey today.

Illustration for 踏上 (set out on)

More examples

她决定踏上自己的事业。tā jué dìng tà shàng zì jǐ de shì yè

She decided to embark on her own career.

Core concept

Stepping forward onto a new path, either with the feet or with one's life and work.

Common phrases

  • 踏上事业tà shàng shì yè

    embark on a career

  • 踏上新岗位tà shàng xīn gǎng wèi

    take up a new position

  • 踏上征程tà shàng zhēng chéng

    embark on a journey

Similar words

出发chū fā: To leave a place and begin traveling to a destination.
开始kāi shǐ: To begin an action, event, or process.
进入jìn rù: To enter a place, situation, or state.
踏入tà rù: To step into a place or enter a new stage, often with a sense of moving forward.

Definition in Chinese

用脚踩上某物或进入某处，常比喻开始从事某事或进入某阶段。yòng jiǎo cǎi shàng mǒu wù huò jìn rù mǒu chù cháng bǐ yù kāi shǐ cóng shì mǒu shì huò jìn rù mǒu jiē duàn

Word origin

踏 (tà, "step on") + 上 (shàng, "onto; up") combines stepping with reaching a new surface or stage, which extends naturally to beginning a journey or undertaking.

Usage tips

  • English "set out" usually suggests movement toward a destination, but this Chinese verb also applies to entering a new period, role, or undertaking.

Other meanings

  • step ontoverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 踏步tà bùmarch in placeverb
  • 踏板tà bǎnpedalnoun

Word lists with this word