歩: the kanji for walk and step
歩 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means walk, step. Below are its readings, 10 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
歩 is written in 8 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
歩 has 5 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 10 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ホ (ho)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 徒歩とほ · toho | on foot |
| 散歩さんぽ · sanpo | walk; stroll |
| 歩道ほどう · hodō | sidewalk |
| 進歩しんぽ · shinpo | progress |
| 一歩いっぽ · ippo | one step |
| 歩行者ほこうしゃ · hokōsha | pedestrian |
ブ (bu)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 歩合ぶあい · buai | commission; percentage |
あるく (aruku)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 歩くあるく · aruku | to walk |
あゆむ (ayumu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 歩むあゆむ · ayumu | to walk (a path) |
| 歩みあゆみ · ayumi | progress; history |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 駅から徒歩五分です。Eki kara toho gofun desu.It's a five-minute walk from the station.
- 昼休みに公園を散歩します。Hiruyasumi ni kōen o sanpo shimasu.I take a walk in the park during lunch.
- 会社まで歩いて行きます。Kaisha made aruite ikimasu.I walk to the office.
- 日本語が少しずつ進歩しています。Nihongo ga sukoshi zutsu shinpo shite imasu.My Japanese is improving little by little.
- 歩行者に注意して運転してください。Hokōsha ni chūi shite unten shite kudasai.Please drive carefully and watch for pedestrians.
- 会社の歩みを紹介します。Kaisha no ayumi o shōkai shimasu.I'll introduce the company's history.
Questions about 歩
How many strokes does 歩 have?
歩 is written in 8 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 歩?
The on readings are ho (ホ), bu (ブ), fu (フ). The kun readings are aruku (あるく), ayumu (あゆむ).
What does 徒歩5分 mean in a real estate listing?
徒歩5分 (toho gofun) means a five-minute walk. Japanese real estate listings calculate it as 80 meters per minute, so 徒歩5分 is about 400 meters.
What JLPT level is 歩?
N4. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Movement and actions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 歩
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.