歩ほ

ほ

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

Refers to a single step or stride in walking. Often used in set phrases like 歩を進める (take a step forward) or 歩を緩める (slow one's pace).

彼かれは一いっ歩ぽも動うごかなかった。
He didn't move a single step.
歩ほを速はやめて駅えきへ向むかった。
I quickened my pace and headed to the station.

counter

counter for steps

Used to count steps or strides. Commonly appears with numbers, e.g., 一歩 (one step), 二歩 (two steps).

毎まい日にち一いち万まん歩ぽを目もく標ひょうに歩あるいている。
I aim to walk 10,000 steps every day.
あと三さん歩ぽでゴールだ。
Just three more steps to the goal.

See all 134 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

歩ほを緩ゆるめるto slow one's pace
疲つかれてきたので歩ほを緩ゆるめた。
I slowed my pace because I was getting tired.
歩ほを止とめるto stop walking; to halt one's steps
彼かれは突とつ然ぜん歩ほを止とめて振ふり返かえった。
He suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned around.
〈数すう〉歩ほ進すすむto advance a certain number of steps
前まえに三さん歩ぽ進すすんでください。
Please move forward three steps.
〈数すう〉歩ほ下さがるto step back a certain number of steps
危あぶないので二に歩ほ下さがってください。
It's dangerous, so please step back two steps.

Expressions· 11

今いま一いっ歩ぽone more; another; the other · not quite; not completely · close run; just falling short of success
あと一いっ歩ぽone more step; one more; another · not quite; not very good; lacking
百ひゃっ歩ぽ譲ゆずるconcede a point for argument's sake; grant that one is entirely wrong
五ご十じっ歩ぽ百ひゃっ歩ぽsix of one, half a dozen of the other; much the same; no real difference
歩ほを進すすめるwalk; step forward · make progress; advance

Show 3 more

百ひゃっ歩ぽ譲ゆずってfor the sake of argument; even if that were true
三さん歩ぽ下さがってwith humility; humbly; three steps behind
一いっ歩ぽも引ひかないnot budge an inch; stand one's ground

See all 11 in Explore →

Grammar

一人ひとり・二に本ほん・三さん冊さつnumbers and countersN5

Kanji

歩walk, counter for steps

Don't confuse with

足あしN5sense 1
足 refers to the foot or leg itself, while 歩 refers to a single step or stride taken with the feet.
歩あるくN5sense 1
歩く is the verb 'to walk', whereas 歩 is the noun (or counter) for a single step, so they cannot be swapped grammatically despite sharing the kanji.
歩ふN1
歩 read as ほ means a step or pace in ordinary Japanese, whereas 歩 read as ふ is the shogi term for a pawn; same kanji, different reading and meaning.

Word family· 61

徒と歩ほN2
walking; on foot
散さん歩ぽN5
walk; stroll
進しん歩ぽN3
progress; advance; improvement; development
歩ほ行こう
walking; walking movement; walk
歩ほ道どうN3
sidewalk; footpath; pavement

Show 25 more

歩ほ兵へい
infantry; infantryman; foot soldier
第だい一いっ歩ぽ
first step
乱らん歩ぽ
random walk
譲じょう歩ほN1
concession; compromise; yielding
初しょ歩ほN1
basics; rudiments; first steps
歩ほ数すう
number of steps; step count
歩ほ調ちょうN1
pace; step; cadence
闊かっ歩ぽ
striding; swaggering; strutting · lording it over others; throwing one's weight around; acting as if one owns the place
競きょう歩ほ
racewalking; race walking
歩ほ幅はば
step length; stride; pace
独どっ歩ぽ
walking alone; walking without assistance · self-reliance; independence · unique; unparalleled; peerless
牛ぎゅう歩ほ
snail's pace; slow progress
歩ほ哨しょう
sentry; sentinel
日にっ進しん月げっ歩ぽ
steady progress; rapid advance
遊ゆう歩ほ
walk; stroll; promenade
一いっ歩ぽ
one step; a step · step; stage; level · a little; a bit; slightly
何なん歩ぽ
how many steps
健けん歩ぽ
good walker; strong walker
半はん歩ぽ
half step; half a step
国こく歩ほ
national fate; prospects of a country
地ち歩ほ
foothold; footing; standing
巨きょ歩ほ
long strides
常じょう歩ほ
walk (horse gait)
徐じょ歩ほ
walking slowly; slow walk
数すう歩ほ
several steps; a few steps

See all 61 in Explore →

Written forms

歩ほUsage95%
Standard kanji spelling for both the noun and counter senses.
ほUsage5%

Etymology

The kanji 歩 depicts a foot and originally meant 'to walk'. The reading ほ is the Sino-Japanese on'yomi, used in many compounds related to walking or steps.