起步
qǐbù · HSK 7
start (a task)
👣 起步 = 起 (rise) + 步 (step): rise up and take the first step
起 means rise or get up; 步 means a step or pace. Together they mark the first move that gets a task underway, like rising and stepping off from a standstill.
起 — 走 (run) + 己 (self/phonetic)
起 combines 走 'run/walk' as the meaning component with 己 as the phonetic component. The 走 element suggests movement of the body, giving the core sense of rising up or starting to move. From there it extended to meanings like 'get up,' 'begin,' and 'arise.'
步 — two feet: 止 (foot) on top + 止 inverted below
Originally a pictograph showing two footprints, one above the other, representing the act of walking step by step. The top 止 is a left foot and the bottom is a right foot, capturing alternating strides. The meaning extended from 'step' to 'pace,' 'stage,' or 'walk.'