一歩 One Step

Meaning

Primary

One Step

Word Type

noun

Explanation

If 歩 is "walk" and you take one walk, then really you are just taking one step. When there's a number before 歩, it refers to the number of steps you're taking. The most common is this one, and you'll see it on urinals when they kindly ask you to please take one step forward because peeing isn't a game and somebody has to clean up after you.

Reading

いっぽ

Explanation

The reading is pretty standard in its trickiness. The いち shortens to an いっ and the ほ rendakus to ぽ. One step at a time, right?

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 一歩も〜

  一歩も歩けない

  cannot walk a step

  一歩もゆずらない

  not give an inch

  一歩も歩かない

  not walk a step

• 一歩〜

  一歩ごと

  at every step, with every step

  一歩一歩

  step by step, one step at a time

  一歩ずつ

  one step at a time

Context Sentences

あと一歩でゴールです。

The goal is one step away.

一歩ずつ上がっていきます。

I go up one step at a time.

一歩、後ろに下がってください。

Step back, please.

Kanji Composition

1. 一

   いち One
2. 歩

   ほ Walk