zǒu: 走 - to walk, to go, to leave

• Keywords: zou, zǒu, 走, how to say walk in Chinese, how to say go in Chinese, meaning of zou, Chinese character for walk, leave in Chinese, 走 vs 去, 走了, 走吧, HSK 1 verb
• Summary: Discover the meaning and usage of 走 (zǒu), one of the most fundamental verbs in Mandarin Chinese. While its core meaning is “to walk,” 走 (zǒu) is more frequently used to say “to go” or “to leave” a place. This guide will break down the character, explain the critical difference between 走 (zǒu) and 去 (qù), and provide practical examples like 我们走吧 (Wǒmen zǒu ba) - Let's go!, making it an essential resource for any beginner learning Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zǒu
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: To move on foot; to walk; to go; to leave.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 走 (zǒu) as the verb for “departing.” Its most basic meaning is “to walk,” but in daily conversation, it's the go-to word for saying you're leaving your current location. If you're at a friend's house and want to say, “I'm heading out now,” you'd use 走 (zǒu). It emphasizes the act of leaving, without necessarily specifying the destination.

• 走 (zǒu): This character is a pictograph that has evolved over time. It's best understood as a picture of a person in motion. The top part (originally resembling a person 大) is a figure swinging their arms, and the bottom part (止, zhǐ) is a depiction of a foot. Together, they create a vivid image of a person walking or running. So, 走 = a person + a foot = walking/moving.

In Chinese culture, the act of departure is a clear social signal. Using 走 (zǒu) is the standard and polite way to announce you are leaving a place, whether it's a friend's home, the office, or a restaurant. The phrase 我走了 (Wǒ zǒu le), literally “I walk now,” is the direct equivalent of “I'm leaving,” or “I'm off.” A crucial cultural and linguistic point is the comparison between 走 (zǒu) and the Western concept of “to go.” In English, “go” is very flexible and usually implies a destination (“I'm going *to the store*”). In Chinese, this function is served by the verb 去 (qù). 走 (zǒu), on the other hand, is about the point of origin: leaving from here. This reflects a different perspective on movement: one focuses on departing from the present spot (走), while the other focuses on arriving at a future spot (去). Mastering this distinction is a key step in thinking more like a native Chinese speaker.

This is the most frequent use of 走 (zǒu) in conversation. It's informal and used constantly among friends, family, and colleagues.

• 我走了 (Wǒ zǒu le): “I'm leaving now / I'm off.”
• 我们走吧 (Wǒmen zǒu ba): “Let's go / Let's get out of here.”

When you want to specify that the mode of transport is by foot, 走 (zǒu) is used, often in the compound word 走路 (zǒu lù).

• 我喜欢走路。(Wǒ xǐhuān zǒu lù): “I like to walk.”
• 我们走过去吧。(Wǒmen zǒu guòqù ba): “Let's walk over there.”

走 (zǒu) is part of many common expressions that go beyond physical movement.

• 走运 (zǒu yùn): To have good luck (literally “walk luck”).
• 走神 (zǒu shén): To be distracted or spaced out (literally “spirit walks away”).
• 手表不走了 (Shǒubiǎo bù zǒu le): My watch stopped running.

• 走起 (zǒu qǐ): A very popular and energetic slang term meaning “Let's do it!”, “Let's get it started!”, or a very enthusiastic “Let's go!”. It's common on social media and among younger people.

• Example 1:
• 太晚了，我该走了。
• Pinyin: Tài wǎn le, wǒ gāi zǒu le.
• English: It's too late, I should get going.
• Analysis: This is a classic example of using 走 to announce your departure. The particle 了 (le) indicates a change of state—you weren't leaving before, but you are now.
• Example 2:
• 我们走吧，电影快开始了。
• Pinyin: Wǒmen zǒu ba, diànyǐng kuài kāishǐ le.
• English: Let's go, the movie is about to start.
• Analysis: Here, 走吧 (zǒu ba) is a suggestion to leave the current location together. It's the quintessential “let's go” phrase.
• Example 3:
• 我每天走路上班，很健康。
• Pinyin: Wǒ měitiān zǒu lù shàngbān, hěn jiànkāng.
• English: I walk to work every day, it's very healthy.
• Analysis: This sentence uses the compound 走路 (zǒu lù) to explicitly mean “to walk.” This removes any ambiguity about the mode of travel.
• Example 4:
• 他是什么时候走的？
• Pinyin: Tā shì shénme shíhòu zǒu de?
• English: When did he leave?
• Analysis: A simple question about the time of someone's departure. The 是…的 (shì…de) structure is used here to emphasize the time (什么时候) of the action.
• Example 5:
• 请问，去火车站怎么走？
• Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, qù huǒchēzhàn zěnme zǒu?
• English: Excuse me, how do I get to the train station?
• Analysis: A very common and practical phrase for asking directions. Here, “how to walk” (怎么走) is used idiomatically to mean “what is the route?” or “how do I get there?”.
• Example 6:
• 你上课的时候不要走神！
• Pinyin: Nǐ shàngkè de shíhòu bùyào zǒu shén!
• English: Don't get distracted during class!
• Analysis: This showcases the figurative use of 走. Your spirit (神 shén) “walks away,” meaning you lose focus.
• Example 7:
• 我的手表不走了，可能是没电了。
• Pinyin: Wǒ de shǒubiǎo bù zǒu le, kěnéng shì méi diàn le.
• English: My watch stopped running, it might be out of battery.
• Analysis: Here, 走 means “to run” or “to work” in the context of a mechanical device like a clock or watch.
• Example 8:
• 我们走过去，还是坐公交车？
• Pinyin: Wǒmen zǒu guòqù, háishì zuò gōngjiāochē?
• English: Should we walk over, or take the bus?
• Analysis: This directly contrasts walking (走过去) with another mode of transport, highlighting its specific meaning of “to go on foot.” 过去 (guòqù) is a directional complement indicating movement “over there.”
• Example 9:
• 周末了！走起！去吃火锅！
• Pinyin: Zhōumò le! Zǒu qǐ! Qù chī huǒguō!
• English: It's the weekend! Let's go! Let's go eat hotpot!
• Analysis: This example uses the modern slang 走起 (zǒu qǐ). It's full of energy and signals excitement to start an activity. Notice how it's immediately followed by 去 (qù) to specify the destination.
• Example 10:
• 他一句话也没说就走了。
• Pinyin: Tā yījù huà yě méi shuō jiù zǒu le.
• English: He left without saying a single word.
• Analysis: This emphasizes the suddenness or abruptness of the departure. The action of 走 is simple and final.

The #1 Mistake: Confusing 走 (zǒu) and 去 (qù) This is the most common pitfall for English-speaking learners. They are not interchangeable.

• 走 (zǒu): To Leave / Depart. It focuses on leaving from here. It cannot take a destination object.
  • Correct: 我要走了。(Wǒ yào zǒu le.) - I'm going to leave now.
  • INCORRECT: 我要走商店。(Wǒ yào zǒu shāngdiàn.)
• 去 (qù): To Go To. It focuses on arriving at a destination. It must be followed by a place or an action that implies a place.
  • Correct: 我要去商店。(Wǒ yào qù shāngdiàn.) - I'm going to the store.
  • INCORRECT: 我要去了。(Wǒ yào qù le.) - This sentence is incomplete and sounds unnatural without a destination. (Unless the destination is already understood from context).

Rule of Thumb: If you are saying where you are going, use 去 (qù). If you are just saying that you are leaving, use 走 (zǒu).

• 去 (qù) - The essential counterpart to 走. It means “to go to” a specific destination.
• 离开 (líkāi) - A more formal verb meaning “to leave” or “to depart from.” Used in writing and more formal speech.
• 走路 (zǒu lù) - A verb-object compound that specifically and unambiguously means “to walk.”
• 跑 (pǎo) - The verb for “to run.”
• 逛 (guàng) - To stroll, wander, or go window-shopping (e.g., 逛街 guàngjiē).
• 出发 (chūfā) - To set out or depart, typically for a journey, trip, or major event.
• 散步 (sànbù) - To take a walk; to go for a stroll, usually for leisure.
• 走运 (zǒu yùn) - A common expression meaning “to be lucky” or “to have a stroke of good luck.”
• 走神 (zǒu shén) - A useful phrase meaning “to be distracted” or “to space out.”
• 走起 (zǒu qǐ) - Modern, energetic slang for “Let's go!” or “Let's do it!”.