Translation and Meaning of: 歩む - ayumu

If you are studying Japanese, you may have come across the verb 歩む (あゆむ), which means "to walk" or "to go on foot." But this word goes beyond the literal sense of walking – it carries poetic and philosophical nuances, often used to describe journeys that are not just physical but also metaphorical. In this article, you will discover the etymology, the pictogram, everyday usage, and even tips for memorizing this kanji effortlessly. Here at Suki Nihongo, in addition to the meaning and translation, you will also find ready-made sentences to include in your Anki and boost your studies.

Etymology and Pictogram: What Does the Kanji 歩 Hide?

The kanji 歩 is an interesting visual and semantic combination. It combines the radical 止 (to stop) with the component 少 (a little), suggesting the idea of "to stop a little" or "to move step by step." Originally, in ancient Chinese writing, the character represented feet in motion, and this essence has remained in Japanese. Interestingly, the verb 歩む is less common in everyday use than 歩く (あるく), its more colloquial equivalent, but stands out in literary or reflective contexts.

A trick that catches many students is the kun'yomi reading (あゆむ), which is exclusive to the verb form. If you see 歩 alone, as in 散歩 (さんぽ, "walk"), the pronunciation will be on'yomi (ほ). This type of detail makes all the difference when reading a text or deciphering signs in the streets of Tokyo.

Use in Daily Life and Popular Expressions

While 歩く is the verb you use to say "I walk to work" (仕事に歩く), 歩む appears more in phrases like "walking through life" (人生を歩む) or "following a difficult path" (苦難の道を歩む). It carries an emotional weight, almost as if each step carries a decision or lesson. In the news, for example, it is common to see expressions like 改革の道を歩む ("walking towards reform") to talk about social or political changes.

A practical tip: note the expression 一歩一歩 (いっぽいっぽ, "step by step"). It perfectly captures the spirit of 歩む and is a great reminder for those learning Japanese – after all, mastering a language is a journey, not a race. Have you thought about using this phrase to motivate a student friend? "日本語を一歩一歩歩もう！" (Let's advance step by step in Japanese!).

Memory Tips and Cultural Curiosities

To fix the kanji 歩, how about associating it with the image of a traffic light? The radical 止 (to stop) resembles the red signal, while the lower stroke looks like a foot ready to move. This type of mnemonic helps to escape rote memorization. Another trick is to remember that 歩む often appears in songs and proverbs, such as in the classic 歩みを止めるな ("don't stop walking"), used in both motivational contexts and J-pop lyrics.

In Japanese culture, walking has an almost meditative meaning, especially in practices like 歩行瞑想 (きんこうめいそう, "walking meditation"). It's no surprise that 歩む appears in texts about Buddhism or self-improvement. If you are a fan of animes like "Vagabond" or "Kino no Tabi", you have already seen this word in action – it is the perfect choice for stories of epic journeys or personal discoveries.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 歩む

• 歩む Dictionary form
• 歩みます Polite form
• 歩め imperative form
• 歩んだ past form

Synonyms and similar words

• 進む (susumu) - move forward, proceed
• 進歩する (shinposuru) - Advance, progress (connotation of development or improvement)
• 進展する (shinten suru) - Advance, progress (referring to progress in a process or situation)
• 前進する (zenshin suru) - Advance, progress (with a focus on moving forward)
• 進み出る (susumideru) - Start to move forward
• 進み続ける (susumi tsuzukeru) - Keep moving forward
• 進み向かう (susumimukau) - Move forward towards something
• 進んでいく (sunde iku) - Keep moving forward
• 進路を取る (shinro o toru) - Take the path, direction
• 歩みを進める (ayumi o susumeru) - Moving forward on a path, journey
• 進んで行く (sunde iku) - Go forward (similar to move ahead)
• 進み始める (susumi hajimeru) - Start to move forward

歩む

Romaji: ayumu
Kana: あゆむ
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: to walk; to go on foot

Meaning in English: to walk;to go on foot

Definition: Be willing to walk.

Example Sentences - (歩む) ayumu

See below some example sentences:

共に歩む未来を目指そう。

Tomoni ayumu mirai wo mezasou

Let's seek together a future to walk.

Point to the future where you walk together.

• 共に - together
• 歩む - walking, moving forward
• 未来 - future
• を - object particle
• 目指そう - let's strive to achieve

私たちは未来を歩む。

Watashitachi wa mirai wo ayumu

We walk towards the future.

We walk for the future.

• 私たちは - 「私たち」
• 未来を - "Future" in Japanese, followed by the particle "wo" which indicates the object of the sentence.
• 歩む - "Andar" in Japanese, indicating the action that "we" are taking in relation to the "future"

謎謎な人生を歩む。

Nazo nazo na jinsei wo ayumu

A mysterious life walks.

• 謎謎 - means "mystery" or "enigma" in Japanese.
• な - particle that indicates adjective.
• 人生 - Means "life" in Japanese.
• を - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
• 歩む - means "to walk" or "to traverse" in Japanese.

同じ道を歩もう。

Onaji michi wo ayumou

Let's walk the same path together.

Let's walk the same road.

• 同じ (onaji) - same
• 道 (michi) - path
• を (wo) - object particle
• 歩もう (arukimou) - let's walk

私たちは一緒に歩みを進めていきましょう。

Watashitachi wa issho ni ayumi o susumete ikimashou

Let's go on together.

• 私たち - 私たち
• 一緒に - "Juntos" in Japanese is "一緒に" (issho ni).
• 歩み - "step" or "path" in Japanese
• を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 進めて - "to advance" in Japanese (continuous form)
• いきましょう - "let's go" in Japanese (polite form)