Translation and Meaning of: 歩み - ayumi

On this page, we will study the meaning of the Japanese word 歩み (ayumi) and its translation into English. Let's see their different meanings, example phrases, explanations, etymology and the similar words.

Romaji: ayumi

Kana: あゆみ

Type: noun

L: jlpt-n1

歩み

Translation / Meaning: walking

Meaning in English: walking

Definition: Keep going. Progress.

Sumário
- Etymology
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Phrases

Explanation and Etymology - (歩み) ayumi

The word 「歩み」 (ayumi) is a Japanese term that means "step," "progress," or "advance." Derived from the verb 「歩む」 (ayumu), which means "to walk" or "to step," this word carries a sense of continuous movement and development. It is used both in a literal sense, referring to the physical act of walking, and in a figurative sense, to describe progress over time, in personal or professional projects, or in historical and social contexts.

As for the etymology, the kanji 「歩」 carries the meaning of "to walk" and is present in various words related to movement and walking. This kanji is associated with the notion of rhythm and sequencing, fundamental concepts both in the physical context of locomotion and in the abstract context of progress. The suffix 「み」 (mi) in 「歩み」 serves to nominalize the action, transforming the verb into a noun that denotes the act or result of walking or advancing.

The use of 「歩み」 transcends the simple act of walking, being widely employed to describe the path or journey in various areas of life. For example, in career contexts, it is common to refer to the professional trajectory as 「キャリアの歩み」 (kyaria no ayumi), literally "the progress of the career." In historical terms, the history of a country can be described with this word, meaning the "path" or "advance" of a nation over time. This diverse usage demonstrates the concept's flexibility and its cultural and linguistic importance in Japanese.