家路(いえじ)

いえじ
noun
the road home; one's way home
literary
1. the road home; one's way home
The path or journey back to one's home. A literary and somewhat poetic word, often evoking feelings of nostalgia, longing, or the comfort of returning home.
家路(いえじ)を急(いそ)いだ。
I hurried home.
夕暮(ゆうぐ)れに家路(いえじ)につく人々(ひとびと)が見(み)えた。
I could see people heading home at dusk.
仕事(しごと)を終(お)え、疲(つか)れた足(あし)で家路(いえじ)をたどった。
After finishing work, I made my way home on tired legs.

A compound of 家(いえ) (home) and 路(じ) (road/path), creating a word with a warm, slightly literary feel. The 路(じ) suffix appears in other path-related words like 帰(かえ)り路(じ) (way back) and 旅路(たびじ) (journey).

Common collocations

  • 家路(いえじ)につく: head for home, set off homeward
  • 家路(いえじ)を急(いそ)ぐ: hurry home
  • 家路(いえじ)をたどる: make one's way home
  • 家路(いえじ)に向(む)かう: head toward home

Cultural note

The Dvořák melody known in English as "Going Home" is called 家路(いえじ) in Japanese and is widely recognized. It is commonly played as a closing announcement in parks, department stores, and public facilities to signal that it is time to leave.

Similar words

  • 帰(かえ)り道(みち): the way back — more everyday and practical; refers simply to the route one takes when returning
  • 帰路(きろ): return journey — more formal; used in written or official contexts
  • 旅路(たびじ): journey, travel — shares the 路(じ) suffix but refers to a longer trip or journey, not specifically going home

Related Words

Compare: 帰(かえ)り道(みち) (the way back)
Compare: 帰路(きろ) (return journey)
Compare: 旅路(たびじ) (journey, travel)
general
Added 2026.3.26 17:33 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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