[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Anatomy-and-Living \ #Foot-Actions # 步 bù step; walk ## Components [[止 (zhǐ)]] ## Meaning Today, the character "步" still primarily means "step" or "walk" in Chinese. It refers to the act of moving one's feet while walking or taking steps. Additionally, it can metaphorically represent following or adhering to something, particularly in a rhythmic or sequential manner. ## History The character "步" is a compound ideograph, depicting two feet, one in front of the other, indicating walking or movement. Its original meaning is to walk or to take steps. In ancient scripts like oracle bone script, it resembled the motion of left and right feet moving forward. This visual depiction remained consistent through different script forms, including bronze inscriptions and seal script. Over time, it evolved into the standardized form used in modern script, known as regular script or kaishu. In the "Shuowen Jiezi," an ancient Chinese dictionary, it states that "步" means walking, with the components "止" (stop) and "少" (few) facing each other, signifying movement. The character "生" originally meant walking, as seen in the context of Qu Yuan's poem "Crossing the River," where it describes walking through mountains and forests. Beyond its literal meaning, "步" has been extended to convey following or adhering to something, as seen in Mao Zedong's poem "Washing Creek Sand," where it describes following the rhythm set by another poet. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[步 oracular.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[步 bronce.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[步 sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[步 clerical.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[步 regular.svg]]