后尘

後塵

hòuchén

noun #21,671

Meanings

1 dust raised by those ahead
2 someone's footsteps
3 the path others have taken

Characters

Examples

他步父亲的后尘，也成了一名医生。

Tā bù fùqīn de hòuchén, yě chéngle yī míng yīshēng.

He followed in his father's footsteps and also became a doctor.

我们不想步前人的后尘，要走出自己的路。

Wǒmen bù xiǎng bù qiánrén de hòuchén, yào zǒuchū zìjǐ de lù.

We don't want to follow in our predecessors' footsteps — we want to forge our own path.

Tips

memory

Literally 'the dust behind (someone)' — picture trailing in the wake of those who walked ahead of you, stirring up dust. Almost always used in the phrase 步...后尘 (to follow in someone's footsteps).

Stroke Order

后 hòu

尘 chén