Meaning
踏上 means to physically step onto something or, more figuratively, to begin a journey or new phase in life. It combines 踏 (to step, to tread) with 上 (up, onto), creating the sense of stepping up onto or beginning something significant. It's commonly used for both literal actions like boarding a vehicle and metaphorical journeys like starting a career path.
Usage
This word carries a slightly formal or literary tone and is frequently used in narratives, news reports, and inspirational contexts. It often appears with abstract nouns like 征程 (journey), 道路 (road/path), or 旅途 (trip) to describe embarking on new endeavors. Native speakers use it to add a sense of importance or ceremony to the act of beginning something.
Examples
- 01毕业后，她踏上了去北京工作的火车。, .After graduation, she boarded the train to work in Beijing.
- 02他终于踏上了实现梦想的道路。.He finally embarked on the path to realizing his dreams.
Characters
Common collocations
- 踏上征程to embark on a journey
- 踏上归途to set out on the journey home
- 踏上新的旅程to embark on a new journey
- 踏上火车to board a train
Antonyms
Origin
The combination of 踏 (to step) and 上 (upward/onto) creates a directional compound indicating the action of stepping up onto something, which extends naturally to the metaphorical sense of beginning a journey.