缓步 (huǎn bù) — to stroll; to walk slowly

Definition

缓步 (huǎn bù) is a formal, written-style verb for strolling or walking slowly and calmly — less colloquial than 散步, which is the everyday word for a casual walk.

verb
to strollto walk slowly

Examples

  • ，缓步。
    Wǎn fàn hòu, tā men xǐ huan zài gōng yuán lǐ huǎn bù.
    After dinner, they like to stroll in the park.
  • 缓步，。
    Lǎo rén huǎn bù zǒu guò cháng jiē, shén qíng ān xiáng.
    The old man strolled down the long street with a peaceful expression.
  • 缓步。
    Tā bù jí bù máng dì huǎn bù jìn rù huì chǎng.
    She walked slowly into the meeting hall without any hurry.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

缓huǎnslow
步bùstep

缓 describes slowness applied to 步, giving the idea of slow walking.

Characters in this word

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 緩; 缓 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
爰
爰yuán緩huǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 緩 pairs 糸 (silk) with 爰, which gives the sound; the simplified 缓 is a later shorthand.

Open 缓 →

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 →

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