散步 (sàn bù) — to take a walk, to go for a walk

Definition

散步 means 'to take a leisurely walk' — implies strolling for pleasure, unlike 走路 (just walking / getting around on foot) or 步行 (formal 'to walk').

verb

to take a walkto go for a walk

Easily confused

散步。
Wǒ men yì qǐ qù sàn bù ba.
Let's go for a walk together.
。
Tā měi tiān wǎn fàn hòu sàn yí huì r bù.
He takes a walk for a while after dinner every day.
散步？
Nǐ jīng cháng zài nǎ r sàn bù?
Where do you often take a walk?

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

散sànto scatter

散 'to scatter' and 步 'step' combine as 'scatter one's steps', i.e. go for a walk.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

散 combines 林 (trees or forest) and 攴 (to knock or tap), originally showing knocking to clear vegetation, later extended to breaking up or dispersing.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

止止步

步 uses two 止 (foot) forms, one reversed, to show one foot stepping in front of the other.

Appears in