Chinese word

道

Pronunciation

Pinyindào

Meaning

  • nounroad

Example

这条道很窄。zhè tiáo dào hén zhǎi

This road is very narrow.

Illustration for 道 (road)

More examples

那条道通向山里。nà tiáo dào tōng xiàng shān lǐ

That road leads into the mountains.

Core concept

A way that leads somewhere, from a narrow path underfoot to a method for reaching a goal.

Common phrases

  • 那条道nà tiáo dào

    that road

  • 一条道yì tiáo dào

    a road

Similar words

路lù: A road that people or vehicles use for travel.
街jiē: A town street with buildings and shops along it.
马路mǎ lù: A broad road where cars and buses commonly travel.

Definition in Chinese

表示供通行的通道或路线，除具体的道路外，汉语中也可引申为方法、途径等抽象含义。biǎo shì gōng tōng xíng de tōng dào huò lù xiàn chú jù tǐ de dào lù wài hàn yǔ zhōng yě kě yǐn shēn wèi fāng fǎ tú jìng děng chōu xiàng hán yì

Word origin

道 (dào, "road") combines 辶 (chuò, "movement") with 首 (shǒu, "head"); 辶 points to travel, while 首 mainly supplies the sound, and the travel idea extends naturally to a course of action.

Usage tips

  • A sentence about travel usually supplies places or directions, while a sentence about solving a problem supplies a goal or plan; these clues help identify the sense.

Other meanings

  • streetnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word