Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.
步bùa step
步 is a single shape of 7 strokes. Learn it whole, then watch its stroke order below.
Memory aidTwo feet, one in front of the other: a step.
骤zhòusudden
马horse · mǎMeaning part
聚to assemble · jùSound part
马 hints at the meaning (horse); 聚 (jù) hints at the sound. Compare it with zhòu.
How to write 步骤
步 7 strokes · 骤 17 strokes
Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.
Stroke order chart for 步骤 (bùzhòu). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.
步骤 (bùzhòu) means “procedure” or “step”. It is an HSK 5 word.
Say it bùzhòu: bù with a 4th tone, then zhòu with a 4th tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
In Traditional characters, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, 步骤 is written 步驟. The pronunciation is the same.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type buzhou with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 步骤 from the suggestions. Typing buzhou into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
步骤 is an HSK 5 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.
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Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences written by WillyChina. Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.
步bù4th tone, falling
