---
title: "Qibu Meaning: 起步 (qǐbù) Means “to start”"
description: "起步 (qǐbù) means “to start; to get going; starting (price, salary)”. Hear its tones, see what 起 and 步 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/qibu"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 起步 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

起步 qǐbù

## to start; to get going; starting (price, salary)

## Its characters

1. 起 qǐ to start
2. 步 bù step

## In a sentence

这家公司刚刚起步，人还不多。 This company has just gotten started and doesn't have many people yet.

谁也不曾料到，日后三国鼎立，其中的蜀汉，竟是从这片桃园里**起步**的。

From [桃园结义 · The Oath in the Peach Garden](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/oath-in-the-peach-garden-three-kingdoms-advanced-chinese-1#library-word-1078-1080)

[More about 起步](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%B5%B7%E6%AD%A5)

## More words with 起 or 步

- [步伐 bùfá](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bufa)
- [步骤 bùzhòu](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/buzhou)
- [初步 chūbù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chubu)
- [地步 dìbù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dibu)
- [对不起 duìbuqǐ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/duibuqi)
- [发起 fāqǐ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/faqi)
- [脚步 jiǎobù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jiaobu)
- [进步 jìnbù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jinbu)
- [进一步 jìnyībù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jinyibu)
- [崛起 juéqǐ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jueqi)

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