step, trample, carry through, appraise, evade payment
踏 centers on the action of stepping with the foot: physically stepping on or trampling something, and by extension carrying through a process step by step, appraising something by stepping into it, or evading payment by stepping away from obligation.
踏 combines the foot radical ⻊ with 沓, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of repeated stepping or overlapping. The exact historical development of 沓 is uncertain, but the compound suggests a foot-related action.
The left side is the foot radical ⻊, and the right side 沓 looks like water 水 over a mouth 口, suggesting stepping into a puddle and making a splash. Picture a foot stepping down firmly, trampling the ground.
For トウ, imagine stepping onto a toe: toe -> トウ, and the foot comes down hard on it.
to step on; to tread on; to trample on
to be based on; to take into account; to build upon; to have origin in
dance (esp. Western style); dancing
railway crossing; railroad crossing; train crossing; level crossing
following (a precedent, former policy, etc.); continuing with; sticking to; observing
to step forward; to step forth; to advance
rear step out
stool (stood on to reach high objects); small stepladder
stepping (in place); stamping (up and down); stomping; marking time (for a soldier)
to step into (e.g. someone else's territory); to break into; to raid
standing firm; holding out
to walk in on; to tread upon
dealing fully (with); going into (issue, etc.); stepping into; breaking or rushing into
untrodden; unexplored
to take off; to jump; to leap
travelling (a long and difficult journey) on foot; walking (all the way) across; travelling through; hiking across; traversing
to trample underfoot; to tread on; to crush with a foot
determination; decision
hustle and bustle; throng; crowd; congestion; traffic jam
to trample down; to tread on