Japanese word

街道

Pronunciation

Romajikaidō

Meaning

  • nounhighway

Example

江戸時代、この街道は人や荷物を運ぶ大切な道でした。e do ji dai ko no kai dō wa hito ya ni motsu o hako bu tai setsu na michi de shi ta

This highway was important for transporting people and goods during the Edo period.

Illustration for 街道 (highway)

More examples

地図を見ると、街道が町の中心を通っています。chi zu o mi ru to kai dō ga machi no chū shin o tō tte i ma su

When you look at the map, the highway runs through the center of the town.

Core concept

Refers to an established road that links towns and supports movement between different areas.

Common phrases

  • 街道を行くkai dō o i ku

    travel along the highway

  • 街道を通るkai dō o tō ru

    travel along the highway

Similar words

道路dōro: A built route that people and vehicles use to travel from one place to another.
往還ōkan: A road used for travel and transport between towns, especially in historical settings.

Definition in Japanese

町と町、または地域と地域を結び、人や荷物の往来に使われる大きな道。machi to machi ma ta wa chi iki to chi iki o musu bi hito ya ni motsu no ō rai ni tsuka wa re ru ō ki na michi

Word origin

The noun 街道 (kaidō) combines 街 (kai, "town or street") with 道 (dō, "road"), giving it the sense of a road between places.

Usage tips

  • In historical descriptions, 街道 (kaidō) commonly refers to routes that connected important towns before modern transport networks developed.

Other meanings

  • main roadnoun

Word lists with this word