Ni no Ashi wo Fumu (二の足を踏む)

Have you ever hesitated or been reluctant to do something?

Such an action is called "ni no ashi wo fumu" (二の足を踏む) in Japanese.

Ni (二) means 'two/second,' ashi (足) means 'foot,' and fumu (踏む) means 'to step.'

Even if you take the first step in doing something, if you are reluctant, you can't take the second step -- it will become just stamping your feet.

The thing is, this idiom represents such a situation.

However, in my opinion, the most important thing is to take the first step.

二の足を踏む

何かをするのに躊躇したり、尻込みしたことはありますか？

そのようなことを、日本語で「二の足を踏む」と言います。

「ニ」は ‘two/second,’ 「足」は ‘foot,’ 「踏む」は ‘to step’ を意味します。

もし一歩目を踏み出しても、尻込みしてしまうと二歩目を踏み出すことができず、その場での足踏みとなってしまいます。

この言葉はそのような状況を表しているというわけです。

個人的には、一歩目を踏み出すことが最も大切なことだと思います。

• Have you ever hesitated or been reluctant to do something?
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Such an action is called "ni no ashi wo fumu" (二の足を踏む) in Japanese.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Ni (二) means 'two/second,' ashi (足) means 'foot,' and fumu (踏む) means 'to step.'
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Even if you take the first step in doing something, if you are reluctant, you can't take the second step -- it will become just stamping your feet.
• Even if you take the first step in doing something, if you are reluctant, you can't take the second step -- you will just be stamping your feet in place.

  "...in place" means in one spot. For example, "walking in place" is walking without moving anywhere.

• The thing is, this idiom represents such a situation.
• This idiom represents such a situation.

  "The thing is..." is often used to present context into unclear situations.
  A: "Why can't we start a fire? It's cold!"
  B: "We can, but the thing is, this forest has a history of forest fires; it's too dangerous."
  
  In this case, we already have the context (sentence 2).

• However, in my opinion, the most important thing is to take the first step.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

I agree, but recklessness can be even worse in some situations.