Meaning
迈 means to take a step or stride forward, often with a sense of advancement or progress. It commonly appears in phrases about moving forward, crossing thresholds, or making progress in life. The character emphasizes purposeful, forward movement rather than casual walking.
Usage
迈 is rarely used alone in modern Mandarin; it almost always appears in compound words or set phrases. Common contexts include discussing age (迈入某个年龄段), progress (迈出重要一步), or entering new phases. It has a somewhat formal or literary register compared to more colloquial words for walking.
Examples
- 01他迈出了人生的重要一步。.He took an important step in his life.
- 02中国正迈向现代化。.China is striding toward modernization.
Common collocations
- 迈出to step out, to take (a step)
- 迈向to stride toward
- 迈进to stride into
- 迈入to step into, to enter
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 邁 contains the radical 辵 (walk/movement) on the left and 萬 (ten thousand) on the right, suggesting striding across great distances. The simplified form 迈 uses 万 instead of 萬.