1.
distance; length of a route
The physical distance of a road or route from one place to another.
駅まで約３キロの道程だ。
It's a distance of about three kilometers to the station.
家から学校までの道程を歩いて通っている。
I walk the distance from my house to school every day.
山頂までは長い道程だが、景色は素晴らしい。
It's a long way to the summit, but the scenery is wonderful.
2.
course; path; process
The figurative journey or process taken to reach a goal or outcome. Used metaphorically for the steps or progress made over time.
成功までの道程は長い。
The road to success is long.
独立に至る道程を振り返った。
I looked back on the path to independence.
復興への道程はまだ半ばだが、着実に前進している。
The journey toward reconstruction is only halfway done, but steady progress is being made.
Written with the characters for 道 (road) and 程 (extent, degree), read as みちのり. Also rarely read as どうてい.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 長い道程 (a long distance/journey)
- ～までの道程 (the distance/path to ~)
- 道程を振り返る (to look back on the journey)
- 道程を歩む (to walk the path)
In sense 1, 道程 is similar to 距離 (distance) but emphasizes the route itself rather than just the numerical measurement. In sense 2, it is used figuratively in speeches, essays, and reflections on progress made toward a goal.