The Meaning of toho [徒歩] In Japanese

徒歩
とほ
Romaji: toho N4

What does 徒歩 mean?

Translation and Meaning

on foot, by walking

Definition

on foot; 徒歩 means traveling by foot rather than by vehicle, used to describe walking as a mode of transportation in Japanese. It emphasizes walking as the chosen means of movement and is common in travel, signage, and formal writing when specifying how someone moves.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • primary meaning: the act of traveling by foot rather than by vehicle
  • nuances and uses: used to distinguish walking from other transportation modes in schedules, routes, and directions
  • formal usage: appears in official documents and travel guides to indicate walking as the intended mode

Composition

  • 徒: contributes the notion of performing the action personally or by foot in compounds and emphasizes the human agent in movement
  • 歩: the core kanji for walking, meaning step or gait
  • Composed meaning: together they form 徒歩, the noun that denotes movement by foot or walking

Usage

Used in contexts where motion by foot is relevant: signage for walking routes, travel itineraries, and descriptive writing. Formal or neutral tone; in everyday speech it is less common compared with more generic terms for walking; primarily appears in writing, official materials, and signage.
💡 Tips
Think of two feet aligned on a straight path; toho suggests personal action and 歩 is the act of walking, so the compound literally means moving by your own feet. A quick mnemonic: two feet on a path = toho, walking.

Variations

  • 歩行 (hokou) – walking; the act of moving by foot
  • 歩くこと (arukukoto) – the act of walking
  • 車移動 (kuruma idou) – movement by car, antonym

Example Phrases

  • 徒歩で駅へ向かい、友人に会った後、カフェへ行った。
    Toho de eki e mukai, yuujin ni atta ato, kafe e itta.
    I walked to the station, met a friend, and then went to a cafe.
    Lista:
    • 徒歩で (toho de) – on foot
    • 駅へ向かい (eki e mukai) – toward the station
    • 友人に (yuujin ni) – to a friend
    • 会った後 (atta ato) – after meeting
    • カフェへ (kafe e) – to a cafe
    • 行った (itta) – went
    Meio de deslocamento a pé: 「徒歩で」.
徒歩