路途

• Pinyin: lù tú
• Hanzi breakdown: 路 = 足 + 各 (road); 途 = 辶 + 俞 (journey/path on the way)

Meaning

Journey; the road or distance between two places. Emphasises the physical route and the effort required to travel it.

More literary and formal than 路程 (distance) or 旅途 (travel experience). Commonly used in expressions like 路途遥远 (the journey is long) and 路途艰辛 (the road is arduous), particularly in formal writing and speeches.

Examples

1. 从山脚到顶峰路途遥远，登山者出发前需做好充分的体力和物资准备。 The journey from the foot of the mountain to the summit is long, so climbers need to prepare enough stamina and supplies before setting out.
2. 援助队员不惧路途险阻，连夜赶赴受灾地区开展紧急救援工作。 Rescue workers were not deterred by the dangerous route and rushed overnight to the disaster area to carry out emergency relief work.
3. 尽管路途漫长，她始终保持着高昂的斗志，终于在预定时间内完成了任务。 Even though the journey was long, she kept her spirits high and finally completed the task within the planned time.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, literature, formal writing

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 前往边疆的路途崎岖艰险，工作组克服重重困难，最终抵达目的地。(The journey to the frontier was rugged and treacherous; the working group overcame numerous difficulties and finally reached its destination.)
• 无论路途多远，他每年都要回家探望年迈的父母。(No matter how long the journey, he returns home every year to visit his elderly parents.)

Don't Say

• 将路途与路程混淆 — 路途 emphasises the nature and difficulty of the journey, often with a literary tone; 路程 is neutral and refers specifically to the distance in measurable terms

Origin & History

路 (road) + 途 (journey/path) — the road and path of a journey

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal