散步

• Pinyin: sàn bù
• Hanzi breakdown: 散 = 攵 (strike) + left component, meaning to scatter or loosen; 步 = 止 (foot) + lower strokes depicting steps, meaning to walk or pace

Meaning

To take a walk; to stroll. A leisurely walk for relaxation or exercise, not for a destination.

A very common everyday expression for taking a casual, unhurried walk. Often done after meals (饭后散步 = walk after dinner) as a Chinese health habit, or in parks and neighbourhoods for relaxation. Used as a verb-object compound — the object 步 (step) can be separated by modifiers: 散散步 (take a little stroll), 散了一会儿步 (strolled for a while).

Examples

1. 吃完晚饭以后，我们出去散步吧。 After dinner, let's go for a walk.
2. 爷爷每天早上都会去公园散步。 Grandpa goes for a walk in the park every morning.
3. 她喜欢在河边散步，觉得很放松。 She likes to stroll along the river — she finds it very relaxing.

Usage Guide

Context: leisure, health, daily routine, parks

Tone: relaxed

Do Say

• 我们去散散步吧，外面天气很好。(Let's go for a stroll — the weather is nice outside.)
• 饭后散步对身体好。(Taking a walk after meals is good for your health.)

Don't Say

• 我散步去上班。(Don't use 散步 for purposeful walking to a destination — use 走路. 散步 specifically means a leisure walk with no destination.)

Origin & History

散 means to scatter or relax (from 攵 strike + components suggesting loosening); 步 means step or pace (止 foot + 少 variant, depicting walking). Together: to take relaxed, unhurried steps — a leisure walk.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal