道路

• Pinyin: dào lù
• Hanzi breakdown: 道 (dào) — way, path; 路 (lù) — road

Meaning

Road; path; way. Can refer to both physical roads and figurative life paths.

A slightly more formal word for road compared to 路 alone. Commonly used in both literal contexts (physical roads) and figurative ones (career path, path of development). Frequently appears in formal writing and news.

Examples

1. 这条道路刚修好，很平坦。 This road was just repaired and is very smooth.
2. 他选择了一条不同的人生道路。 He chose a different path in life.
3. 城市的道路越来越宽了。 The city roads are getting wider and wider.

Usage Guide

Context: traffic, urban planning, figurative

Tone: neutral, formal

Do Say

• 前方道路施工，请绕行。(Road construction ahead — please detour.)
• 他走上了成功的道路。(He set out on the road to success.)

Don't Say

• 在日常对话中不需要总说道路 — in casual speech, just say 路 for roads; 道路 is more natural in formal or written contexts.

Origin & History

Compound of 道 (way, path) and 路 (road). Both characters individually mean 'road,' and together they form a more formal and complete term.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal