道(みち)

みち

noun

road, street, way

1. road, street, path

A route or path for traveling from one place to another.

この道(みち)をまっすぐ行(い)ってください。

Please go straight down this road.

道(みち)に迷(まよ)いました。

I got lost.

道に迷う = to lose one's way

この道(みち)は狭(せま)いです。

This road is narrow.

駅(えき)までの道(みち)を教(おし)えてください。

Please tell me the way to the station.

雨(あめ)で道(みち)が濡(ぬ)れています。

The road is wet from the rain.

この道(みち)を渡(わた)って、右(みぎ)に曲(ま)がってください。

Cross this road and turn right.

2. way, method

A course of action or the proper way of doing something.

茶道(さどう)を習(なら)っています。

I'm learning the way of tea.

成功(せいこう)への道(みち)は長(なが)い。

The road to success is long.

Metaphorical use (path)

自分(じぶん)の道(みち)を信(しん)じてください。

Please believe in your own path.

Metaphorical use (way of life)

柔道(じゅうどう)は日本(にほん)の武道(ぶどう)の一(ひと)つです。

Judo is one of the Japanese martial arts.

道 in compounds = 'way' (discipline)

先生(せんせい)になる道(みち)は長(なが)いですが、頑張(がんば)りたいと思(おも)います。

The path to becoming a teacher is long, but I want to do my best.

Metaphorical: career path

道(みち) has both literal (road/path) and metaphorical (way/method) meanings.

KANJI READINGS:

みち: standalone word or native compounds
どう: Sino-Japanese compounds (martial arts, disciplines)

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

道(みち)に迷(まよ)う: to lose one's way
道(みち)を聞(き)く: to ask for directions
道(みち)を渡(わた)る: to cross the road
道(みち)を開(ひら)く: to open a path (also figurative)

COMPOUNDS WITH どう:

茶道(さどう): tea ceremony (the way of tea)
柔道(じゅうどう): judo (the gentle way)
書道(しょどう): calligraphy (the way of writing)
武道(ぶどう): martial arts

METAPHORICAL USES:

成功(せいこう)への道(みち): the path to success
自分(じぶん)の道(みち): one's own path in life

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:21 · Revised 2026.2.8 9:56

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