Japanese word

道

Pronunciation

Romajimichi

Meaning

  • nounway, road

Example

駅までの道を教えてください。eki ma de no michi o oshi e te ku da sa i

Please tell me the way to the station.

Illustration for 道 (way)

More examples

この道を歩いて学校へ行きます。ko no michi o aru i te gak kō e i ki ma su

I walk along this road to school.

この道は公園に続いています。ko no michi wa kō en ni tsuzu i te i ma su

This road leads to the park.

Core concept

Marks the route that connects a starting point with a destination, whether it is a street, a trail, or a way through an area.

Common phrases

  • 道に迷うmichi ni mayo u

    get lost

  • 道を歩くmichi o aru ku

    walk along the road

  • 道を渡るmichi o wata ru

    cross the road

Similar words

道路dōro: A road built for people and vehicles to travel along.
通りtōri: A street or road in a town or city, often lined with buildings.
通路tsūro: A passage used to move from one place to another.

Definition in Japanese

ある場所から別の場所へ移動するために通るところ。a ru ba sho ka ra betsu no ba sho e i dō su ru ta me ni tō ru to ko ro

Word origin

The native Japanese noun 道 (michi, "way") is written with the Sino-Japanese character 道, which means "way" or "road"; the reading predates the character's use in Japanese.

Usage tips

  • In everyday directions, 道 (michi, "way") usually means a route to follow, while the same word can also appear in names for traditional fields such as 茶道 (sadō, "tea ceremony").

Other meanings

  • pathnoun

Word lists with this word