散歩

• Reading: さんぽ
• Romaji: sanpo
• Kanji breakdown: 散 (san) — scatter, disperse. 歩 (ho/po) — walk, step
• Pronunciation: /saɴ.po/

Meaning

Walk; stroll. A leisurely walk taken for pleasure or exercise.

A する verb — 散歩する means 'to take a walk.' Often used with を to indicate the route: 公園を散歩する (to walk through the park). A common daily activity in Japan, especially popular among the elderly. Dog walking is also expressed as 犬の散歩.

Examples

1. 毎朝公園を散歩しています。 I take a walk in the park every morning.
2. 犬の散歩に行ってきます。 I'm going to go walk the dog.
3. 天気がいいから散歩しませんか。 The weather is nice, so shall we go for a walk?

Usage Guide

Context: exercise, daily routine, pets

Tone: relaxed

Origin & History

Compound of 散 (san, scatter/disperse) and 歩 (po, walk/step). The imagery is of walking in a leisurely, unhurried way — letting one's steps scatter freely without a fixed destination.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal