道

• Reading: みち
• Romaji: michi
• Kanji breakdown: 道 (dou/michi) — road, path, way
• Pronunciation: /mi.t͡ɕi/

Meaning

Road; path; street; way. Refers to any route for walking or driving.

A noun meaning road, path, or way. Beyond its physical meaning, 道 also carries a philosophical sense of 'the way' or 'path' in life, as seen in martial arts terms like 柔道 (judo, the gentle way) and 茶道 (sadou, the way of tea). In everyday use, it refers to streets and roads.

Examples

1. この道をまっすぐ行ってください。 Please go straight down this road.
2. 道に迷ってしまいました。 I ended up getting lost.
3. 狭い道だから気をつけてください。 It's a narrow road, so please be careful.

Usage Guide

Context: directions, daily life, travel

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 道 combines 辶 (movement) with 首 (head/chief), suggesting a path one leads others along.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal