<p>In this particular example 一步一步 basically means "step by step"; it emphasizes how it's gradual and slow.  More generally it means "little by little", and the repeated character indicates what is occurring gradually.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Aside from just meaning "one by one," when 一 (yī) is used with a measure word that is a unit of time like "day" or "year," the meaning changes to "little by little" ("day by day," "year by year") or "gradually."<br>
  <sub><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22one_by_one%22_with_%22yi%22#Used_as_.22Little_by_Little.22" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Expressing "one by one" with "yi": Used as "Little by Little"</a>, Chinese Grammar Wiki</sub></p>
</blockquote>

<p>I found the relevant passage from 活着 and it's:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>凤霞走后，有庆不干了。起先凤霞被人领走时，有庆瞪着眼睛还不知道出了什么事，直到凤霞走远了，<strong>他才挠着头一步一步往回走</strong>。我看到他朝我这里张望几下，就是不过来问我。他还在家珍肚子里时我就打过他，他看到我怕。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Here's my rough, somewhat literal translation:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>After Feng Xia left, Youqing stopped.  At first, when Feng Xia was taken away, Youqing's open eyes didn't know what happened, and when Feng Xia was far away, <strong>only then he scratched his head and step-by-step walked back</strong>.  I saw him face me here peering for a bit, but did not come over and ask me.  When he was still in Jiazhen's tummy I beat him, and he saw my fear.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>And a professional translation:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>After Fengxia left, Youqing stopped listening to us.  When Fengxia was taken away, Youqing just watched, not knowing what was going on.  <strong>Only</strong> after Fengxia had gotten far away <strong>did Youqing scratch his head and slowly make his way home</strong>.  I saw him looking over at me a few times, but he didn't come over to ask what was going on.  When he was still in Jiazhen's stomach I had hit him, so he was scared of me.<br>
  <sub>To Live: A Novel, Yu Hua, translated by Michael Berry</sub></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-11T10:16:19.920Z
2020-06-11T10:16:19.920Z
Becky 李蓓
<p>I’m reading 活着 and I’m seeing it all the time. It’s driving me nuts!</p>

<p>“他才挠着头一步一步往回走。”</p>

<grammar>
What does 一 + verb/noun + 一 + verb/noun mean?
# What does 一 + verb/noun + 一 + verb/noun mean?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-06-11)

I’m reading 活着 and I’m seeing it all the time. It’s driving me nuts!

“他才挠着头一步一步往回走。”

**Tags:** grammar

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-06-11. Score: 1

In this particular example 一步一步 basically means "step by step"; it emphasizes how it's gradual and slow. More generally it means "little by little", and the repeated character indicates what is occurring gradually.

> Aside from just meaning "one by one," when 一 (yī) is used with a measure word that is a unit of time like "day" or "year," the meaning changes to "little by little" ("day by day," "year by year") or "gradually."  
> [Expressing "one by one" with "yi": Used as "Little by Little"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22one_by_one%22_with_%22yi%22#Used_as_.22Little_by_Little.22), Chinese Grammar Wiki

I found the relevant passage from 活着 and it's:

> 凤霞走后，有庆不干了。起先凤霞被人领走时，有庆瞪着眼睛还不知道出了什么事，直到凤霞走远了，**他才挠着头一步一步往回走**。我看到他朝我这里张望几下，就是不过来问我。他还在家珍肚子里时我就打过他，他看到我怕。

Here's my rough, somewhat literal translation:

> After Feng Xia left, Youqing stopped. At first, when Feng Xia was taken away, Youqing's open eyes didn't know what happened, and when Feng Xia was far away, **only then he scratched his head and step-by-step walked back**. I saw him face me here peering for a bit, but did not come over and ask me. When he was still in Jiazhen's tummy I beat him, and he saw my fear.

And a professional translation:

> After Fengxia left, Youqing stopped listening to us. When Fengxia was taken away, Youqing just watched, not knowing what was going on. **Only** after Fengxia had gotten far away **did Youqing scratch his head and slowly make his way home**. I saw him looking over at me a few times, but he didn't come over to ask what was going on. When he was still in Jiazhen's stomach I had hit him, so he was scared of me.  
> To Live: A Novel, Yu Hua, translated by Michael Berry


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