step

Compared meaning: to move by placing a foot down (verb).

比较义项：迈步行走（脚落地移动）（动词）。

• step 本词

  Step is the everyday, neutral verb for a single foot movement, and it combines naturally with direction words like forward, back or aside; it works for almost any ordinary movement.

  step 是日常、中性的动词，指单次的脚步动作，常与 forward、back、aside 等方向词搭配，几乎可以用于任何普通的移动场合。

  He stepped back to let the delivery driver pass.

  他向后退了一步，让送货员先过去。

• tread

  Tread is more formal or literary, often used with 'on' to stress that weight or pressure is placed on a surface, and it does not naturally take directional words like back or forward.

  tread 更正式、书面化，常与 on 连用，强调脚踩在某个表面上、带有分量或压力感，一般不与 back、forward 这类方向词搭配。

  Please tread carefully; the floor is still wet with paint.

  请小心行走，地板上的油漆还没干。

Step and tread both mean to move by putting a foot down. Step is the everyday, neutral word, often paired with direction words like forward or back. Tread is more formal, often used with 'on', stressing weight or pressure on a surface.

这两个词在“迈步、行走”这一意义上很接近，但语气和用法不同：tread 更正式或书面化，常表示脚踏在某个表面上、带有分量感或需要小心；step 是日常口语用词，常与方向词（forward、back、aside 等）搭配，表示单纯的脚步动作。这里不比较 tread 表示“轮胎花纹”的名词义，也不比较 step 表示“台阶”或“步骤”的其他义项。