Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'a due passi' to describe something so close you could reach it in just two steps.
- Means: Extremely close or within very short walking distance.
- Used in: Giving directions, describing home locations, or meeting friends.
- Don't confuse: It's figurative; you don't literally have to take only two steps.
내 수준에 맞는 설명:
뜻
Very close by.
문화적 배경
Italian cities are designed for walking. 'A due passi' reflects the reality that most essential services are within a 5-minute walk in the 'centro storico'. When an Italian says they are 'a due passi' on the phone, it might mean they are actually 5-10 minutes away. It's a polite way to say 'I'm coming!'. The related phrase 'fare due passi' refers to the cultural ritual of the evening stroll, where people dress up and walk through the town center. In Italian property ads, 'a due passi dal mare' is the most coveted description, even if the sea is a 10-minute walk away.
Use it for convenience
Use this phrase when you want to sound enthusiastic about how easy it is to reach a place.
Watch the preposition
Remember: 'a due passi DA'. Don't use 'di' or 'a' after the phrase.
Use it for convenience
Use this phrase when you want to sound enthusiastic about how easy it is to reach a place.
Watch the preposition
Remember: 'a due passi DA'. Don't use 'di' or 'a' after the phrase.
The 'Proprio' boost
Add 'proprio' (proprio a due passi) to sound 100% like a native speaker when something is extremely close.
셀프 테스트
Complete the sentence with the correct preposition and article.
Il cinema è a due passi ___ (il) centro.
We use 'da' for distance, and 'da + il' becomes 'dal'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'The beach is very close'?
Come si dice 'The beach is very close' in modo idiomatico?
'A due passi' is the standard idiom.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Andiamo in macchina al bar?' B: 'No, dai, è ___.'
The context suggests walking is better because it's close.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are 2 minutes away from meeting a friend. What do you text?
'Sono a due passi' means 'I'm almost there'.
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
연습 문제 은행
5 연습 문제Il cinema è a due passi ___ (il) centro.
We use 'da' for distance, and 'da + il' becomes 'dal'.
Come si dice 'The beach is very close' in modo idiomatico?
'A due passi' is the standard idiom.
A: 'Andiamo in macchina al bar?' B: 'No, dai, è ___.'
The context suggests walking is better because it's close.
You are 2 minutes away from meeting a friend. What do you text?
'Sono a due passi' means 'I'm almost there'.
🎉 점수: /5
자주 묻는 질문
5 질문Technically yes, but it's not a standard idiom. Stick to 'due' or 'quattro' for the idiomatic effect.
Yes, if you are describing where you live or how you got there. It's neutral-friendly.
99% of the time, yes. It implies a distance so short that driving would be silly.
'Vicino' is a simple adjective (near). 'A due passi' is more expressive and emphasizes the ease of getting there.
No, it's strictly for spatial distance. For time, use 'tra poco' or 'manca poco'.
관련 표현
dietro l'angolo
synonymJust around the corner.
qui vicino
similarNear here.
a un tiro di schioppo
synonymA stone's throw away.
fare due passi
builds onTo take a short walk.
a portata di mano
similarWithin reach / handy.
어디서 쓸까?
Asking for a pharmacy
Turista: Scusi, c'è una farmacia qui vicino?
Passante: Sì, è proprio a due passi, dietro l'angolo.
Real Estate Viewing
Agente: Questo appartamento è bellissimo e la metro è a due passi.
Cliente: Ottimo, la posizione è perfetta allora.
Meeting a friend
Giulia: Dove sei? Ti aspetto da dieci minuti!
Luca: Tranquilla, sono a due passi, sto parcheggiando!
Booking a Hotel
Viaggiatore: L'hotel è lontano dal centro?
Receptionist: No, siamo a due passi da Piazza Navona.
At the office
Collega 1: Andiamo a pranzo fuori?
Collega 2: Sì, c'è un posticino nuovo a due passi dall'ufficio.
On a hike
Escursionista 1: Manca ancora molto per il rifugio?
Escursionista 2: No, dai, siamo a due passi dalla cima!
암기하기
기억법
Think of '2 steps' (due passi). If you only need two steps, you're basically already there!
시각적 연상
Imagine standing at your front door and seeing your favorite coffee shop so close that you could reach it in two giant leaps.
Rhyme
A due passi, senza sassi. (Two steps away, no stones in the way.)
Story
Marco was late for his date. He called Sofia and said, 'I'm a due passi!' He literally took two big steps and turned the corner to see her waiting at the fountain. They both laughed because he was finally telling the truth about being close.
In Other Languages
Most Romance languages use a nearly identical 'two steps' formula. English uses 'a stone's throw' or 'around the corner', which are more figurative than numerical.
Word Web
챌린지
Next time you are walking in your neighborhood, identify three places that are 'a due passi' from your home and say them out loud in Italian.
Review this phrase every time you use Google Maps or ask for directions this week.
발음
The 'u' in 'due' is a clear 'oo' sound. The 'ss' in 'passi' is a sharp, unvoiced 's' sound, held slightly longer.
격식 수준 스펙트럼
La stazione è situata a breve distanza. (Giving directions)
La stazione è a due passi. (Giving directions)
La stazione è qui dietro. (Giving directions)
La stazione sta proprio qua. (Giving directions)
The phrase dates back to the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, when the 'passo' (step) was a common, albeit informal, unit of measurement. While a formal 'passo' was about 75cm, the idiom 'a due passi' emerged as a hyperbolic way to describe immediate proximity, likely influenced by the compact nature of walled cities.
재미있는 사실
Despite being an idiom for 'close', a literal 'passo' was once a legal unit of measurement in various Italian states before the metric system.
문화 노트
Italian cities are designed for walking. 'A due passi' reflects the reality that most essential services are within a 5-minute walk in the 'centro storico'.
“In Florence, everything in the center is 'a due passi'.”
When an Italian says they are 'a due passi' on the phone, it might mean they are actually 5-10 minutes away. It's a polite way to say 'I'm coming!'.
“'Arrivo, sono a due passi!' (actually still at home).”
The related phrase 'fare due passi' refers to the cultural ritual of the evening stroll, where people dress up and walk through the town center.
“Andiamo a fare due passi in piazza?”
In Italian property ads, 'a due passi dal mare' is the most coveted description, even if the sea is a 10-minute walk away.
“Vendesi trilocale a due passi dal mare.”
대화 시작하기
C'è un buon ristorante a due passi da casa tua?
Preferisci vivere in centro o a due passi dal verde?
Qual è il posto più bello a due passi da qui?
자주 하는 실수
Il bar è a due passi di casa.
Il bar è a due passi da casa.
L1 Interference
La stazione è due passi.
La stazione è a due passi.
L1 Interference
Abito a due passi per il centro.
Abito a due passi dal centro.
L1 Interference
Il ristorante è a due passi da qui a piedi.
Il ristorante è a due passi.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
A dos pasos
None, they are linguistic twins.
À deux pas
French sometimes uses 'à deux pas d'ici' more frequently than the standalone version.
Ein Katzensprung
The German version is more colorful/figurative, while the Italian is more literal-based.
目と鼻の先 (Me to hana no saki)
Focuses on visual field rather than walking distance.
على مرمى حجر (Ala marma hajar)
Implies a slightly larger distance than 'two steps'.
近在咫尺 (Jìn zài zhǐ chǐ)
More formal/literary than the casual Italian 'a due passi'.
엎어지면 코 닿을 데 (Eopeojimyeon ko daeul de)
Much more informal and descriptive than the Italian version.
A dois passos
None.
Spotted in the Real World
“E sono a due passi da te”
A romantic song about being physically and emotionally close to someone.
“Un passo dal cielo”
While not 'due passi', it uses the same 'step' logic for proximity to the divine/mountains.
“Ottima posizione, a due passi dal centro!”
Commonly found in reviews for hotels and restaurants.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners see 'passo' and think it's about distance.
This means 'step by step' and refers to a process or method, not distance.
Contains 'passo' but is a complex idiom.
This means 'to bite off more than you can chew'.
자주 묻는 질문 (5)
Technically yes, but it's not a standard idiom. Stick to 'due' or 'quattro' for the idiomatic effect.
usage contextsYes, if you are describing where you live or how you got there. It's neutral-friendly.
usage contexts99% of the time, yes. It implies a distance so short that driving would be silly.
basic understanding'Vicino' is a simple adjective (near). 'A due passi' is more expressive and emphasizes the ease of getting there.
comparisonsNo, it's strictly for spatial distance. For time, use 'tra poco' or 'manca poco'.
grammar mechanics
