half-step; a small step
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
half a step (literal); a small step or effort (figurative)
literaryA classical Chinese term (书). Often used in chengyu or metaphorical expressions to emphasize the importance of perseverance and accumulating small efforts. The figurative meaning is more common than the literal one.
Bù不
jī积
kuǐ跬
bù步
，
wú无
yǐ以
zhì至
qiān千
lǐ里
。
Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles.
Xué学
xí习
wài外
yǔ语
guì贵
zài在
jiān坚
chí持
，
měi每
rì日
kuǐ跬
bù步
，
zhōng终
néng能
chéng成
gōng功
。
The key to learning a foreign language lies in persistence; taking small steps every day will eventually lead to success.
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Tā他
zuò做
shì事
kuǐ跬
bù步
bù不
lí离
，
fēi非
cháng常
zhuān专
zhù注
。
He works with unrelenting focus, never straying from his goal.