步
- a step, pace, gait;
Etymology
A pictographic compound:
Formed from two 止 (“foot, to stop”) elements placed one above the other, representing left and right feet stepping alternately.
In oracle bone script, some forms showed the two feet inside 行 (“to go, to travel”), clearly depicting the act of walking.
By the bronze script, the form simplified to just the two feet without 行.
Over time, the lower foot became inverted and later evolved into a shape resembling 少.
In Japanese shinjitai, the lower part was directly replaced with 少 → 歩 (a rare case where the simplified form actually has more strokes).
Usage in Korean
步兵 (보병) — infantry (“foot soldiers”)
步驟 (보조) — step, measure, procedure
漫步 (만보) — to stroll, wander
踱步 (탁보) — to pace, to walk slowly
一步登天 (일보등천) — “to ascend to heaven in a single step”; sudden, dramatic success
Words that derived from 步
Additional notes
In Confucian texts, 步 can symbolize measured, orderly conduct — “progress step by step.”
In Daoist thought, 步 is sometimes associated with ritual movement, such as the “pacing the void” (步虛) in Daoist ceremonies.
In military language, 步 denotes infantry, underscoring the importance of foot soldiers in premodern armies.
In Buddhist texts, phrases like 行步 (행보) emphasize mindful walking as a spiritual practice.
- 卜中一竹 (YLMH)
- ⿱ 止 𣥂