路子

• Pinyin: lù zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 路 = 足 + 各 (road/way); 子 = diminutive suffix indicating an informal or colloquial form

Meaning

Approach, method, or way of doing things; personal connections or informal channels used to accomplish something.

Informal and colloquial. 走路子 means to use personal connections to achieve a goal. Also describes a person's style or approach: 他的路子很野 means his methods are unconventional or bold. Common in everyday speech, especially in business and social contexts.

Examples

1. 他在这一行摸爬滚打多年，积累了不少人脉，路子比一般人宽得多。 He’s been grinding it out in this line of work for years and has built up a lot of connections—his options are much wider than most people’s.
2. 这个问题靠正规渠道短期内解决不了，得找找有没有其他路子。 There’s no way to solve this through official channels in the short term; we’ll have to see if there’s another way.
3. 做生意要走正路，靠那些歪路子终究走不长远。 In business you have to do things the right way—taking crooked shortcuts won’t get you far in the long run.

Usage Guide

Context: business, social networking, everyday speech

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他在政府部门有些路子，办理这类手续应该比较顺利。(He has some connections in government departments, so handling this kind of paperwork should go relatively smoothly.)
• 年轻人刚入行，路子还不熟，需要前辈多指点。(Young people are new to the industry and not yet familiar with the ropes; they need guidance from their seniors.)

Don't Say

• 在正式书面语中使用路子 — 路子 is colloquial and informal; use 途径 or 渠道 in formal writing to express 'channel' or 'approach'

Origin & History

路 (road/way) + 子 (diminutive suffix) — a 'little road,' i.e., a method or informal channel

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal