路頭

• Reading: ろとう
• Romaji: rotō
• Kanji breakdown: 路 (ro) — road, path; 頭 (tō) — head, top
• Pronunciation: /ɾotoː/

Meaning

Roadside; streets; being destitute. Primarily used in the phrase 路頭に迷う — to end up on the streets, to be left without means of livelihood.

A noun meaning literally 'the road's head' or roadside, but used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 路頭に迷う (to wander the streets destitute; to be left without a livelihood). This phrase is common in journalism and everyday speech when discussing unemployment, bankruptcy, or sudden loss of support.

Examples

1. 突然の解雇で家族全員が路頭に迷う危機に直面した。 The sudden layoff left the entire family facing the crisis of being out on the streets.
2. 会社の倒産により、数百人の従業員が路頭に迷うことになった。 The company's bankruptcy left hundreds of employees with no means of livelihood.
3. 路頭に迷う人を出さないために行政の支援が急務だ。 Government assistance is urgently needed to prevent people from ending up destitute.

Usage Guide

Context: employment, economics, social issues, journalism

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From 路 (road, path) and 頭 (head, top). The compound evokes the image of being stranded at the start of an open road with nowhere to go — a vivid metaphor for destitution that has been in use since the Edo period.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo–Present

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal