筋道

• Reading: すじみち
• Romaji: sujimichi
• Kanji breakdown: 筋 (suji) — line, thread, logic; 道 (michi) — path, way
• Pronunciation: /sɯdʑimitɕi/

Meaning

Reason; logic; a coherent, step-by-step sequence of thought or argument.

A noun describing logical consistency or an ordered chain of reasoning. 筋道を立てる means to organise one's thinking into a logical argument. The word evokes the image of a clear path through a forest — a route that can be traced from start to finish without detours.

Examples

1. 筋道を立てて話してくれないと、何が問題なのか分からない。 If you don't explain things in a logical order, I can't understand what the problem is.
2. 彼の議論は筋道が通っていて、反論が難しかった。 His argument was so logically coherent that it was hard to refute.
3. まず筋道を整理してから交渉に臨むべきだ。 You should organize your reasoning before entering negotiations.

Usage Guide

Context: argument, communication, reasoning, negotiation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 筋 (muscle, fibre, line, thread of reasoning) and 道 (path, way). The metaphor of a thread running through cloth — the logical thread that holds an argument together.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal