zǒulù: 走路 - To Walk

• Keywords: zoulù, 走路, walk in Chinese, how to say walk in Chinese, walking, Chinese verb for walk, zǒu lù, learn Chinese, HSK 2 vocabulary, Chinese transport, 走 vs 走路
• Summary: Learn how to say “to walk” in Chinese with this complete guide to 走路 (zǒulù). Discover the literal meaning (“walk road”), how to use it in everyday conversation, and understand the crucial difference between 走路 and the single character 走 (zǒu). This entry is packed with practical example sentences, cultural insights into walking in China, and common mistakes to avoid, making it perfect for beginner learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zǒu lù
• Part of Speech: Verb (specifically, a verb-object phrase that functions as a verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: To walk; to go on foot.
• In a Nutshell: 走路 (zǒulù) is the most common and direct way to talk about the physical action of walking. It combines the verb “to go” (走) with the noun “road” (路) to literally mean “to walk a road.” You use it whenever you want to specify that your mode of transport is your own two feet.

• 走 (zǒu): This character originally depicted a person running or striding. You can think of the top part as the person's body and the bottom part (止) as a foot in motion. By itself, it means “to walk,” “to go,” or “to leave.”
• 路 (lù): This character means “road” or “path.” It's made of the “foot” radical (足) on the left and the character 各 (gè), which means “each.” You can imagine it as the path that each foot takes, one after the other.
• Together, 走路 (zǒulù) creates a very logical and concrete image: using your feet (走) to travel on a path (路). This verb-object structure is common in Chinese and clarifies that the action is specifically about walking, not just “going” in general.

Walking is a fundamental part of daily life in China, perhaps even more so than in many car-centric Western countries. Due to dense urban planning and excellent public transportation, 走路 (zǒulù) is a primary mode of getting around for short distances—to the subway station, a local market, or a nearby restaurant. A key cultural practice is the post-dinner stroll, or 散步 (sànbù). There's a famous saying, “饭后百步走，活到九十九” (fàn hòu bǎi bù zǒu, huó dào jiǔshíjiǔ), which means “Take a hundred steps after a meal, and you'll live to be ninety-nine.” This contrasts with the Western view where a walk might be seen more as a scheduled form of exercise or a means to an end. In China, the leisurely walk is deeply ingrained as a social activity and a key to a healthy, balanced life. It's common to see families, couples, and groups of friends strolling through parks or along streets in the evening, chatting and enjoying the air.

走路 (zǒulù) is a neutral, everyday term used in a wide variety of contexts.

• Describing Commutes: You use it to explain how you get to work or school if you go on foot.
• Giving and Asking for Directions: It's essential for explaining that a place is within walking distance.
• Talking About Exercise: While more specific terms exist, 走路 can be used to describe walking for health.
• Stating a Preference: You might use it to say you prefer walking over taking a bus for a short trip.

It is generally informal but perfectly acceptable in almost any conversational setting. Its connotation is neutral; it's simply a factual description of an action.

• Example 1:
  • 我家离公司很近，我每天走路上班。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jiā lí gōngsī hěn jìn, wǒ měitiān zǒulù shàngbān.
  • English: My home is very close to the office, so I walk to work every day.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of using 走路 to describe a daily routine or commute.
• Example 2:
  • 从这里走路到地铁站要多长时间？
  • Pinyin: Cóng zhèlǐ zǒulù dào dìtiě zhàn yào duō cháng shíjiān?
  • English: How long does it take to walk from here to the subway station?
  • Analysis: A very practical question for getting around in a Chinese city.
• Example 3:
  • 医生说多走路对身体好。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng shuō duō zǒulù duì shēntǐ hǎo.
  • English: The doctor said that walking more is good for your health.
  • Analysis: Here, 走路 is used in the context of health and well-being.
• Example 4:
  • 外面天气这么好，我们走路去吃饭吧。
  • Pinyin: Wàimiàn tiānqì zhème hǎo, wǒmen zǒulù qù chīfàn ba.
  • English: The weather outside is so nice, let's walk to go eat.
  • Analysis: This shows 走路 used in a suggestion, contrasting with other modes of transport like taking a taxi.
• Example 5:
  • 小心！你走路的时候不要玩手机。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎoxīn! Nǐ zǒulù de shíhòu búyào wán shǒujī.
  • English: Be careful! Don't play on your phone when you are walking.
  • Analysis: A common warning. The structure “verb + 的时候 (de shíhòu)” means “when…”.
• Example 6:
  • 他走路的样子很奇怪。
  • Pinyin: Tā zǒulù de yàngzi hěn qíguài.
  • English: The way he walks is very strange.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how 走路 can be part of a larger descriptive phrase.
• Example 7:
  • 孩子刚一岁，还不会走路。
  • Pinyin: Háizi gāng yí suì, hái bú huì zǒulù.
  • English: The child is just one year old and can't walk yet.
  • Analysis: Used here to describe a key developmental milestone.
• Example 8:
  • 我们是走路还是坐公交车？
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen shì zǒulù háishì zuò gōngjiāochē?
  • English: Are we walking or taking the bus?
  • Analysis: A typical “A or B” question (是…还是…) involving transportation choices.
• Example 9:
  • 我今天走路走得太久了，腿很酸。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān zǒulù zǒu de tài jiǔ le, tuǐ hěn suān.
  • English: I walked for too long today, my legs are really sore.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses a “verb + 得 (de) + description” pattern to describe the result of the action of walking.
• Example 10:
  • 虽然下着小雨，他仍然坚持走路回家。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán xiàzhe xiǎoyǔ, tā réngrán jiānchí zǒulù huí jiā.
  • English: Even though it was raining lightly, he still insisted on walking home.
  • Analysis: Shows 走路 in a more complex sentence to express determination.

The most critical mistake for beginners is confusing 走路 (zǒulù) with its component character 走 (zǒu).

• 走路 (zǒulù): Only means “to walk” (the physical action). It specifies the mode of transport.
• 走 (zǒu): Can mean “to walk,” but more often means “to go” or “to leave.” It is used to signal departure or general movement towards a destination.

Common Mistake: Saying “我们走路吧 (Wǒmen zǒulù ba)” when you mean “Let's go.”

• Incorrect: 你准备好了吗？我们走路吧！ (Nǐ zhǔnbèi hǎo le ma? Wǒmen zǒulù ba!)
  • This means: “Are you ready? Let's go by walking!” This is only correct if you are specifically deciding to walk instead of, say, drive.
• Correct: 你准备好了吗？我们走吧！ (Nǐ zhǔnbèi hǎo le ma? Wǒmen zǒu ba!)
  • This means: “Are you ready? Let's go!” It doesn't specify how you will go.

Another point of confusion is 走路 (zǒulù) vs. 散步 (sànbù).

• 走路 (zǒulù): Functional walking. Goal-oriented (get from A to B). “I walk to the store.” (我走路去商店。)
• 散步 (sànbù): Leisurely walking, a stroll. For pleasure, relaxation, or health. “Let's take a walk in the park.” (我们去公园散步吧。)

• 走 (zǒu) - The core verb within 走路. By itself, it most often means “to go” or “to leave.”
• 路 (lù) - The noun for “road,” “path,” or “way.”
• 散步 (sànbù) - A synonym with a different connotation; “to take a stroll,” “to walk for pleasure.”
• 步行 (bùxíng) - A more formal, written term for “to go on foot.” You might see it on signs or in official documents.
• 跑 (pǎo) - To run. A related but different physical action.
• 开车 (kāichē) - To drive a car. A common alternative mode of transport.
• 骑车 (qíchē) - To ride a bicycle. Another common transport alternative.
• 过马路 (guò mǎlù) - A specific action: “to cross the street.”
• 迷路 (mílù) - To get lost (literally “to lose the road/path”).
• 上路 (shànglù) - To set out on a journey; to hit the road.