邁 (mài) - To stride & to step forward

邁Tone 4

mài ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

邁 · mài

To stride;

to step forward;

to advance;

to surpass;

to exceed;

also used as a unit of measurement (mile).

To strideto step forwardto advance

Usage highlights

To stride forwardTo advance towardAdvanced in yearsMileTo stride vigorouslyTo surpass the ordinary

Synonyms

  • 跨— to step across
  • 越— to exceed, to surpass
  • 进— to advance

Antonyms

  • 退— to retreat
  • 滞— to stagnate

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He strode forward confidently (迈步向前).
  • The country is advancing toward modernization (迈向现代化).
  • She has passed the age of seventy (年迈七十).
  • The car was traveling at sixty miles per hour (时速六十迈).

Collocations

  • To stride forward(迈步)
  • To advance toward(迈向)
  • Advanced in years(年迈)
  • Mile (as speed unit)(迈)
  • To stride vigorously(豪迈)
  • To surpass the ordinary(超迈)

Idioms

  • Striding forward with head high(昂首阔步迈向前)
  • The old horse in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand miles(老骥伏枥，志在千里)
  • To advance with great strides(日新月异，迈步向前)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally meant 'to step over' or 'to stride,' later extended to mean 'to advance' or 'to progress.'
  • In modern usage, often borrowed as a unit for 'mile' in speed measurement (e.g., 时速八十迈).
  • Carries connotations of vigor, progress, and surpassing limits.

FAQ