抜(ぬ)け道(みち)

ぬけみち
noun
shortcut; back road; loophole
1. shortcut; back road; side street
a less-traveled route that allows one to avoid traffic or reach a destination faster
抜(ぬ)け道(みち)を知(し)っている。
I know a shortcut.
渋滞(じゅうたい)を避(さ)けて抜(ぬ)け道(みち)を通(とお)った。
I took a back road to avoid the traffic jam.
この裏道(うらみち)は地元(じもと)の人(ひと)しか知(し)らない抜(ぬ)け道(みち)だ。
This back alley is a shortcut only locals know about.
2. loophole; way around a rule
a way to avoid or circumvent rules, laws, or restrictions
法律(ほうりつ)の抜(ぬ)け道(みち)を探(さが)す。
To look for loopholes in the law.
規制(きせい)に抜(ぬ)け道(みち)がある。
There's a loophole in the regulations.
税金(ぜいきん)の抜(ぬ)け道(みち)を使(つか)うのは違法(いほう)だ。
Using tax loopholes is illegal.

FORMATION:
抜(ぬ)ける (to pass through, to escape) + 道(みち) (road, path) → escape route

RELATED WORDS:

  • 近道(ちかみち) (shortcut - literally "near road")
  • 裏道(うらみち) (back road)
  • 回(まわ)り道(みち) (detour)
  • 抜(ぬ)け穴(あな) (loophole - similar figurative meaning)

DISTINCTION:
近道(ちかみち) simply means a shorter route, while 抜(ぬ)け道(みち) often implies going through back streets or less obvious routes. In the figurative sense (loophole), only 抜(ぬ)け道(みち) is used.

general
Added 2026.1.26 13:46
08000/08370_nukemichi