Japanese word

回り道

Pronunciation

Romajimawarimichi

Meaning

  • noundetour

Example

工事中なので、回り道をして駅へ行きました。kō ji chū na no de mawa ri michi o shi te eki e i ki ma shi ta

Because of construction, I took a detour to get to the station.

Illustration for 回り道 (detour)

More examples

案内板を見落として、思わぬ回り道になりました。an nai ban o mi o to shi te omo wa nu mawa ri michi ni na ri ma shi ta

I missed the sign and ended up taking an unexpected detour.

Core concept

Describes reaching a destination by going around instead of following the most direct route.

Common phrases

  • 回り道をするmawa ri michi o su ru

    take a detour

  • 回り道になるmawa ri michi ni na ru

    become a detour

Similar words

遠回りtōmawari: A route or course that adds distance by avoiding a direct path.
迂回路ukairo: A route used to avoid a blocked road, obstacle, or area.
迂回ukai: The act of going around an obstacle or area rather than passing through it.

Definition in Japanese

目的地へ行くために、通常の道を避けて別の道を通ること。moku teki chi e i ku ta me ni tsū jō no michi o sa ke te betsu no michi o tō ru ko to

Word origin

回り道 (mawarimichi) is a native Japanese compound: 回り (mawari, "going around") is the noun form of 回る (mawaru, "to go around"), and 道 (michi, "road") means a path.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese traffic notices, 回り道 (mawarimichi) often appears when construction or a closed road requires travelers to use another route.

Other meanings

  • circuitous routenoun

Opposites

  • 近道chikamichishortcutnoun

Related words

  • 回り道するmawarimichisurutake a detourverb

Word lists with this word