足踏(あしぶ)み

あしぶみ
noun
marking time; stagnation; treading
1. marking time; marching in place
the act of stepping in place without moving forward, as in marching
行進(こうしん)で足踏(あしぶ)みをする。
To mark time during a march.
運動会(うんどうかい)で足踏(あしぶ)みの練習(れんしゅう)をした。
We practiced marching in place for the sports day.
寒波(かんぱ)で足踏(あしぶ)みして体(からだ)を温(あたた)めた。
I warmed my body by stepping in place during the cold snap.
2. stagnation; standstill; making no progress
a state where no progress is made despite continued effort
景気(けいき)が足踏(あしぶ)み状態(じょうたい)だ。
The economy is in a state of stagnation.
交渉(こうしょう)は足踏(あしぶ)みしている。
The negotiations are at a standstill.
売上(うりあげ)が足踏(あしぶ)みを続(つづ)けている。
Sales continue to stagnate.

足踏(あしぶ)み literally means stepping in place without moving forward. The figurative sense of stagnation or standstill is very common, especially in news and business contexts.

WORD FORMATION:
足(あし) (foot) + 踏(ふ)む (to step). Written as a compound noun.

VERB USAGE:

  • 足踏(あしぶ)みする (to mark time; to stagnate)
  • 足踏(あしぶ)みを続(つづ)ける (to continue stagnating)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 足踏(あしぶ)み状態(じょうたい) (state of stagnation)
  • 景気(けいき)の足踏(あしぶ)み (economic stagnation)
  • 交渉(こうしょう)が足踏(あしぶ)みする (negotiations stall)

REGISTER:
The literal sense (marching in place) appears in physical activity contexts like 運動会(うんどうかい). The figurative sense is more formal, common in news reporting and business discussions.

Related Words

Related: 行(い)き詰(づ)まり (deadlock; impasse)
general
Added 2026.1.25 9:50 · Revised 2026.3.30 12:20
08000/08032_ashibumi