1.
gait, footsteps, pace
The way someone walks, the rhythm and manner of their steps.
軽い足取りで歩く。
To walk with a light step.
疲れた足取りで家に帰った。
I returned home with tired, heavy steps.
彼は酔っぱらって足取りがふらふらだった。
He was drunk and his gait was unsteady.
2.
trail, movements, whereabouts
The traces or trail of someone's movements, often used when tracking or investigating someone.
犯人の足取りを追う。
To trace the suspect's movements.
行方不明者の足取りがつかめない。
We can't get a trace on the missing person's movements.
警察は防犯カメラの映像をもとに容疑者の足取りを追っている。
The police are tracing the suspect's movements based on security camera footage.
USAGE:
Sense 1 is often modified by adjectives describing the quality of the gait: 軽い足取り (light steps), 重い足取り (heavy steps), 確かな足取り (sure-footed steps).
Sense 2 is common in news reports about criminal investigations and missing persons cases.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 足取りが軽い: light-footed
- 足取りが重い: heavy-footed
- 足取りを追う: to follow someone's trail
- 足取りをつかむ: to get a trace on someone's movements