Radical 彳

6 strokes

1. step forward 彳 (81a) + footstep 亍 (81c) = OK 行

2. step forward 彳 (81a) + footstep 亍 (81c) = line 行

See Character 54 if you need reminding about the significance of Wild West and spaceship stories.

The two halves of this character can bracket other characters between them (see Character 710 for an example).

[不行 (9) bùxíng not allowed, not OK]

[行动 (58) xíngdòng to move; behavior]

1.

The sheriff looks up and down the street before he dares to step forward, but then he thinks he hears a footstep behind him. he whirls round … but it’s OK. / It’s just the fairy fixing up a shingle at the doctor’s house (and she’d dropped it).

2.

(Outside the sickbay, the morning after the planet-leaving party). You are about to step forward into the sickbay when you hear a footstep behind you. You look back and see a long line of people queueing up. / The fairy is well known for her hangover cures!

slide (34b) + person 亻 (13a) = step forward 彳

Harry is standing at the bottom of the slide ready to step forward and catch any children who are going too fast. / [No pronunciation needed]

You will also see this used to mean fourth in a sequence, much as (d) or (iv) are used in english.

one 一 (1) + nail 丁 (81b) = footstep 亍

This is a distorted form of 81a (step forward) and combines with it to form the next character.

The unicorn has a nail stuck in his hoof so you can hear his footsteps clattering when he’s walking along the road. / [No pronunciation needed]