Writing
起步 (qǐ bù) — how to say "start" in Chinese
起步
Start, beginning
verb
Character composition
起
to rise, to start
步
step
Radicals / Keys
止
Stop
#77 · zhǐ · 4 strokes
走
Run
#156 · zǒu · 7 strokes
Collocations
起步阶段
qǐ bù jiē duàn
initial stage
Examples
这个项目刚刚起步，需要时间。
This project is just starting, it needs time.
他起步很快。
He starts quickly.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say "start" in Chinese?
"start" in Chinese is 起步 (qǐ bù).
起步 meaning
起步 (qǐ bù) means "Start, beginning".
How is 起步 pronounced?
It is pronounced qǐ bù (written as qi bu, qibu). You can listen to the pronunciation on this page.
How do you write "start" in Chinese characters?
It is written 起步: 起 has 10 strokes, 步 has 7 strokes. The Writing section above animates the stroke order of each character and lets you trace it.
What HSK 3.0 level is 起步?
起步 is on the HSK 3.0 levels 7–9 word list. It is not part of the six-level HSK 2.0 lists.
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