adverb, noun
step by step; one step at a time
Emphasizes gradual, steady progress, often in a determined or careful manner. Used both adverbially and as a noun.
彼は歩一歩、目標に近づいている。
He is getting closer to his goal step by step.
語学の上達は歩一歩だ。
Improvement in language learning comes one step at a time.
Compound of 歩 (ho, 'step') and 一歩 (ippo, 'one step'), with the reading ほいっぽ resulting from rendaku (sequential voicing) of 一歩. The repetition of 歩 reinforces the iterative, step-by-step nuance.