Japanese kanji 歩: walk

The idea

Common Chinese-derived readings include ホ. Japanese-origin readings include あるく・あゆむ. Compare 歩く (あるく) with 散歩 (さんぽ). 歩 has 8 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Examples

• 駅えきから学校がっこうまで歩あるきます。I walk from the station to the school.
• 駅えきの方向ほうこうへ歩あるきます。I walk in the direction of the station.
• 道みちの左側ひだりがわを歩あるきます。I walk on the left side of the road.
• 祖父そふは毎日まいにち、散歩さんぽします。My grandfather takes a walk every day.
• 早朝そうちょうに散歩さんぽします。I take a walk early in the morning.
• 歩道ほどうをゆっくり歩あるきましょう。Let’s walk slowly along the pavement.

Watch out

With 歩く, を can mark the route. 歩 is ぽ in 散歩 but ほ in 歩道. Compare 歩 with 少: look for 止 in 歩.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 歩く in hiragana.

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   あるく

   歩く is read あるく; the whole word means to walk.

2. Write the reading of 散歩 in hiragana.

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   さんぽ

   散歩 is read さんぽ; the whole word means walk; stroll.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿道（ほどう）.

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   歩

   歩 completes 歩道, read ほどう; the whole word means sidewalk; pavement.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 歩 from memory, and read 歩く and 散歩 aloud. Make a sentence, then check the readings and meanings.