道路

• Reading: どうろ
• Romaji: douro
• Kanji breakdown: 道 (dou/michi) — road, path; 路 (ro/ji) — route, road
• Pronunciation: /doː.ɾo/

Meaning

Road; a paved path for vehicles and pedestrians.

A noun referring to public roads and streets, often used in formal or official contexts. Common compounds: 道路工事 (douro kouji, road construction), 高速道路 (kousoku douro, expressway), 道路標識 (douro hyoushiki, road sign). More formal than 道 (michi), which is the everyday word for road or path.

Examples

1. この道路は工事中で通れない。 This road is under construction and can't be used.
2. 高速道路が渋滞していたので下道を使った。 The expressway was backed up, so I took the surface streets.
3. 新しい道路ができて駅までのアクセスがよくなった。 A new road was built, making access to the station much better.

Usage Guide

Context: traffic, infrastructure, travel

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 道 (dou, road/path) and 路 (ro, route/road). Both kanji mean 'road,' creating emphasis. The word was used in classical Chinese texts and adopted into Japanese.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal