How to Write 跬 (kuǐ) — Meaning “a short step”

Imagine a foot (足) taking a tiny step as short as a small jade tablet (圭). Picture someone moving just the length of a piece of jade to remember that 跬 means a very short step.

Pay attention to the proportions: the left side 足 should be slightly narrower than the right side 圭. The bottom of 足 has a horizontal stroke that should align well with the bottom of 圭 to keep the character balanced.

The character 䠀 is rare and its meaning is not well defined, while 趺 means "to sit cross-legged" and uses the component 夫 instead of 圭. Visually, 跬 has 圭 on the right, whereas 趺 has 夫, and their meanings are completely different: 跬 is a short step, 趺 is a sitting posture.

You will most often find 跬 in the word 跬步 (kuǐ bù), meaning "a small step," and in the idiom 不积跬步，无以至千里 (without accumulating small steps, you cannot reach a thousand miles). This saying from the philosopher Xunzi encourages patience and gradual progress.

Common words containing 跬 include: 跬步 (kuǐ bù) — a small step; 积跬 (jī kuǐ) — accumulating small steps; 跬行 (kuǐ xíng) — to walk with small steps.