履
perform, complete, footgear, shoes, boots, put on (the feet)
Readings
On'yomi
- リ
Kun'yomi
- は.く
Meaning
履 centers on the act of stepping into or carrying out something: putting on footwear, and by extension performing or completing an action as if walking through it.
Most common words using 履
20 of 61- 履くはくN5
to put on (lower-body clothing, e.g. pants, skirt, footwear); to wear
- 履歴りれきN1
personal history; background; career
- 履修りしゅう
taking (a class); studying; completion (of a course)
- 履行りこう
performance (of a duty); fulfillment (of a promise); fulfilment; execution (of a contract); discharge; implementation
- 不履行ふりこう
default; nonperformance
- 草履ぞうりN2
zori; traditional Japanese thonged sandals
- 上履きうわばき
hallway slippers; indoor shoes
- 履物はきものN1
footwear; footgear; shoes
- 履帯りたい
tank tread; continuous track; caterpillar track; endless track; crawler track
- 草履虫ぞうりむし
Paramecium spp. (esp. Paramecium caudatum)
- 履歴書りれきしょN3
personal history document; curriculum vitae; resume
- 履き古しはきふるし
worn-out shoes; worn-out socks
- エラー履歴エラーりれき
error history
- コマンド履歴コマンドりれき
command history
- ゴム草履ゴムぞうり
rubber thongs; rubber flip-flops
- サンダル履きサンダルばき
wearing sandals
- 上草履うわぞうり
indoor sandals; slippers
- 下履きしたばき
outdoor shoes
- 下駄を履かせるげたをはかせる
to inflate (figures); to jack up (e.g. a score); to pad
- 下駄履きげたばき
wearing wooden clogs
Study
Etymology
履 combines 尸 (a body or person) with 復, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of returning or repeating. Together they suggest stepping or walking, leading to the meanings of footwear and performing actions.
Meaning mnemonic
The outer 尸 looks like a person bending forward, and inside is 復 (return). Imagine someone returning home and stepping into their shoes at the entrance—履 means putting on footwear and, by extension, stepping into a task to perform it.
Reading mnemonic
For リ, picture a person putting on their favorite leather boots: leather -> リ, and the boots are ready to perform any task.