踏踏实实 (tā tā shí shí) — steady and reliable; down-to-earth (in attitude…

Definition

A reduplicated AABB adverbial meaning 'steady and down-to-earth' — describes working or studying step by step, in contrast to 浮躁 (impetuous, restless). Often used as ∼地 before a verb.

bound form

steady and reliabledown-to-earth (in attitude or manner)

Examples

踏踏实实，。
Tā gōng zuò tā tā shí shí, cóng bù tōu lǎn.
He works steadily and never slacks off.
踏踏实实，。
Xué xí yào tā tā shí shí, bù néng fú zào.
Studying must be done in a down-to-earth way; one must not be impetuous.
踏踏实实，。
Tā tā tā shí shí dì zuò shì, zhōng yú chéng gōng le.
She does things steadily and finally succeeded.

Origin

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

踏踏tread

踏tàtread踏tàtread

实实solid

实shísolid实shísolid

踏 and 实 are repeated to convey steady, down-to-earth seriousness.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

足足zúfoot

Sound part声符shēngfú

沓

沓tà踏

Same sound today

踏 has 足 (foot) as its left part to show a foot-related meaning, and 沓 as its right part to give the sound.

Open 踏 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú

足足zúfoot

Sound part声符shēngfú

沓

沓tà踏

Same sound today

踏 has 足 (foot) as its left part to show a foot-related meaning, and 沓 as its right part to give the sound.

Open 踏 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 實; 实 is its simplified writing.

宀宀miánroof
周周zhōucarved jade
貝貝bèishellfish; cowrie

The traditional form 實 has 宀 'roof' above 周 'carved jade' and 貝 'cowrie'; the simplified 实 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 实 →