• 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

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.

걸음
georeum
bo
Kangxi radical:77, + 3
Strokes:7
Unicode:U+6B65
Cangjie input:
  • 卜中一竹 (YLMH)
Composition:
  • ⿱ 止 𣥂

Neighboring characters in the dictionary

References

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