歩む|あゆむayumu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto walk; to go on foot
- godan verb, intransitive verbto tread (a figurative path); to follow; to lead (a life); to experience
- godan verb, intransitive verbto advance towards (e.g. a solution); to set out (e.g. on the path to destruction, ruin, etc.); to embark (on the road to ...)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 歩む（あゆむ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 歩みます（あゆみます） |
| Negative (nai) | 歩まない（あゆまない） |
| polite (masen) | 歩みません（あゆみません） |
| classical zu / nu | 歩まず・歩まぬ（あゆまず・あゆまぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 歩んだ（あゆんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 歩みました（あゆみました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 歩まなかった（あゆまなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 歩みませんでした（あゆみませんでした） |
| Te form | 歩んで（あゆんで） |
| Potential | 歩める（あゆめる） |
| Passive | 歩まれる（あゆまれる） |
| Causative | 歩ませる（あゆませる） |
| Causative passive | 歩ませられる・歩まされる（あゆませられる・あゆまされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 歩めば（あゆめば） |
| tara | 歩んだら（あゆんだら） |
| Volitional | 歩もう（あゆもう） |
| polite (mashou) | 歩みましょう（あゆみましょう） |
| Imperative | 歩め（あゆめ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym歩くあるくNeutralThe everyday word for walking, as in 「駅まで歩く」; most common in speech, also for getting around, while 「歩む」 is more written and often metaphorical about life.
- Synonym歩行ほこうNeutralA noun for walking on foot, seen in 「歩行者」; mostly used in traffic and medical contexts rather than for treading a life path.
- Related進行しんこうNeutralA noun for things moving forward or progressing, as in 「工事が進行する」; it stresses work or events advancing, while 「歩む」 leans toward walking through life.
- Related前進ぜんしんNeutralA noun for advancing or moving forward, as in 「一歩前進」; it can also figuratively mean making progress toward a goal.
- Related進むすすむNeutralThe most versatile word for moving forward, as in 「前に進む」; unlike 「歩む」 it covers any forward movement, not just treading a path.
- Antonym止まるとまるNeutralTo stop moving or come to a halt; the direct opposite of the forward motion of 「歩む」.
- Antonym立ち止まるたちどまるNeutralTo stop in one's tracks, halting one's steps; the opposite of 「歩む」.
「歩む」 is for walking step by step or going through life, as in 「人生を歩む」 and 「同じ道を歩む」, and leans toward written style. For everyday walking use 「歩く」; for things progressing, 「進む」 or 「進行」. The opposite is 「立ち止まる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
