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步骤 (bù zhòu) — step (in a process); procedure

Definition

步骤 refers to the individual steps that make up a process (first step, next step). Compare 过程/流程 (the whole process) and 程序/手续 (formal procedures or formalities).

noun
step (in a process)procedure
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 步骤。
    Zuò dàn gāo de dì yī bù zhòu shì zhǔn bèi cái liào.
    The first step in making a cake is to prepare the ingredients.
  • 步骤？
    Zhè ge xiàng mù de xià yí bù zhòu shì shén me?
    What is the next step of this project?
  • 步骤。
    Qǐng àn zhào shuō míng shū de bù zhòu cāo zuò.
    Please follow the steps in the manual to operate.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

步bùstep
骤zhòustage

步 and 骤 both refer to a step or stage; together they mean a procedure or sequence of steps.

Characters in this word

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

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

Open 步 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 驟; 骤 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎhorse
Sound part声符shēngfú
聚
聚jù驟zhòu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 驟 uses 馬 to show the idea of a horse and 聚 for its sound; the simplified 骤 is a later shorthand.

Open 骤 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 5Order & Arrangement

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