進路

• Reading: しんろ
• Romaji: shinro
• Kanji breakdown: 進 (shin) — advance, proceed; 路 (ro) — road, path
• Pronunciation: /ɕiɴ.ɾo/

Meaning

Route; course; path. Also used figuratively for one's future career or educational direction.

A noun with two main uses. Physically, it refers to the path or course of movement, such as a typhoon's trajectory. Figuratively, it is very commonly used to describe a student's future direction in terms of career or education, as in 進路相談 (career guidance counseling). This figurative use is extremely common in school settings.

Examples

1. 台風の進路が東に変わったらしい。 It seems the typhoon's path has shifted to the east.
2. 高校三年生は進路について真剣に考える時期だ。 Third-year high school students are at the stage where they seriously think about their future.
3. 先生と進路相談をして、大学を決めた。 I talked with my teacher about my future plans and decided on a college.

Usage Guide

Context: education, career planning, weather, navigation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 進路. 進 (shin) means to advance or proceed, and 路 (ro) means road or path. Together they express the path one advances along, both literally and figuratively.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal