脚步

• Pinyin: jiǎo bù
• Hanzi breakdown: 脚 = 月 (flesh) + 却 (retreat), meaning foot; 步 = 止 (stop) + 少, depicting walking

Meaning

Footstep; pace. The sound or rhythm of walking.

Can refer to literal footsteps (sound or movement) or figuratively to the pace of progress or development. 加快脚步 means to speed up, while 放慢脚步 means to slow down. Often used metaphorically for life pace or societal development.

Examples

1. 深夜里，走廊上突然传来一阵脚步声。 Late at night, footsteps suddenly echoed in the hallway.
2. 随着科技的发展，时代的脚步越来越快。 With technological development, the pace of the times is getting faster and faster.
3. 他放慢脚步，等落在后面的朋友跟上来。 He slowed his pace, waiting for the friend who had fallen behind to catch up.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, literature, metaphor

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我听到了脚步声。(I heard footsteps.)
• 加快脚步，我们快迟到了！(Pick up the pace, we're almost late!)

Don't Say

• 他的脚步很大只 (脚步 refers to steps/pace, not foot size — use 脚 for foot size)

Origin & History

Compound of 脚 (foot) + 步 (step), meaning the step of the foot.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal