Meaning

Primary

One Step

Word Type

noun

Explanation

If is "walk" and you take one walk, then really you are just taking one step. When there's a number before , it refers to the number of steps you're taking. The most common is this one, and you'll see it on urinals when they kindly ask you to please take one step forward because peeing isn't a game and somebody has to clean up after you.

Reading

いっぽ
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The reading is pretty standard in its trickiness. The いち shortens to an いっ and the rendakus to . One step at a time, right?

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 一歩も歩けない

    cannot walk a step

    一歩もゆずらない

    not give an inch

    一歩も歩かない

    not walk a step

Context Sentences

あと一歩でゴールです。

The goal is one step away.

一歩ずつ上がっていきます。

I go up one step at a time.

一歩、後ろに下がってください。

Step back, please.

Kanji Composition