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歨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
Old variant of 步x, 8 strokes, radical 止, Very Hard
old variant of 步[bu4]unknown, 8 strokes, radical 止, Very Hard
(bu4) T4
  1. 1Old variant of 步
  2. 2old variant of 步[bu4]
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March 24, 2026

(bu4)

The character 歨 (bù) is an archaic variant of the more commonly used character 步, which means 'step' or 'pace'. It retains the same pronunciation and is primarily seen in historical texts or classical literature, where it may denote movement or progression.

Strokes8RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Historically, the concept of 'steps' (步) is significant in Chinese philosophy, particularly in ideas of progress and movement in life, which are often illustrated through poetry and classical texts.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person taking a step (步) on a path that winds through ancient Chinese landscapes. The character 歨 resembles a footprint making its way forward, symbolizing the journey of life, while the 'bù' sound can be remembered by picturing a boot (sounds like 'bù') taking that step.

Meanings of 歨

(bu4)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 歨

Simplified
8Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 歨

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AI Study Notes for 歨

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person taking a step (步) on a path that winds through ancient Chinese landscapes. The character 歨 resembles a footprint making its way forward, symbolizing the journey of life, while the 'bù' sound can be remembered by picturing a boot (sounds like 'bù') taking that step.

Usage Notes

While 歨 is not commonly used in modern Mandarin, learners should be aware that it may appear in classical literature. This character has the same tone and context as 步, so students should focus on the standard usage of 步 in everyday conversation.

HSK Study Tips

As an archaic variant, 歨 does not appear in the HSK curriculum, which focuses on contemporary usage. However, understanding 步 at HSK level 1 will help learners recognize the context in which 歨 might appear in literature.

Cultural Note

Historically, the concept of 'steps' (步) is significant in Chinese philosophy, particularly in ideas of progress and movement in life, which are often illustrated through poetry and classical texts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 歨 with 步 due to their similarity. A common mistake is attempting to use 歨 in modern contexts, where the correct character would be 步.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 歨

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Etymology of 歨

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Putting one foot 止 in front of the other

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 歨?

Decomposition of 歨

IDS Structure⿱止止
Full Character
=
zhi3
top
zhi3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 歨?

Write 歨

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Cultural Notes for 歨

🏮Cultural insight

Historically, the concept of 'steps' (步) is significant in Chinese philosophy, particularly in ideas of progress and movement in life, which are often illustrated through poetry and classical texts.

Word Family of 歨

Words Containing This Character1
a step
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 歨 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 歨

步 is the modern form and is widely used in everyday language, while 歨 is an old variant that you might encounter in classical literature.