1To place one's foot on something and press down; the most basic sense of stepping or treading on something.
子どもが誤って友達の足を踏んでしまった。
The child accidentally stepped on his friend's foot.
泥で靴が汚れないように、花壇を踏まないでください。
Please don't step on the flowerbed so your shoes don't get muddy.
運転中にブレーキを強く踏んで車を止めた。
While driving, he stepped hard on the brake to stop the car.
2To set foot on a place, especially for the first time (e.g., visiting a foreign country); often used as "〜の土/地を踏む."
彼は初めて日本の土を踏んだとき、感動で涙があふれた。
When he set foot on Japanese soil for the first time, he was moved to tears.
私はまだ一度も北海道の地を踏んだことがない。
I have never once set foot in Hokkaido.
彼女は留学で初めてヨーロッパの地を踏んだ。
She set foot in Europe for the first time when she went to study abroad.
3To undergo or go through something, such as hardship or a series of stages.
若い頃にいくつもの失敗を踏んだことで今の自信がある。
Having gone through many failures when he was young is why he has confidence now.
彼は幾つかの部署を踏んでから今のポストに就いた。
He went through several departments before taking his current post.
長い交渉を踏んでようやく合意に至った。
After going through lengthy negotiations, they finally reached an agreement.
4To follow prescribed rules or procedures; to go through the required formalities or steps.
申請は書類を揃え、所定の手続きを踏んでから提出してください。
For the application, prepare the documents and submit them after following the prescribed procedures.
公式の承認を得るためにはいくつかの段階を踏む必要がある。
You need to go through several stages to obtain official approval.
異動の際は社内の手続きをきちんと踏むべきだ。
When transferring positions, one should properly follow the company's internal procedures.
5To estimate or judge based on the situation, often used as "〜と踏む" (to assume/reckon that ...).
渋滞は解消されると踏んで少し遅めに出発したが、まだ混んでいた。
I figured the traffic would clear up and left a bit later, but it was still congested.
彼の勝利は固いと踏んで賭けに出た人もいた。
Some people bet, reckoning his victory was certain.
来月には需要が戻ると踏んで在庫を少し減らした。
I guessed demand would return next month and reduced stock a little.
6To rhyme, matching end sounds in poetry or rap; almost always used in the fixed phrase "韻を踏む."
地元のラッパーたちはフリースタイルで巧みに韻を踏む。
Local rappers skillfully rhyme in freestyle.
この詩人は各行の最後で必ず韻を踏んでいる。
This poet always rhymes at the end of every line.
7To succeed to a throne or a high position; a formal, classical expression rarely used in everyday modern speech.
長男が父の死後、正式に王位を踏んだ。
The eldest son formally succeeded to the throne after his father's death.