Japanese word of the day: 道 (Michi)

What does 道 (Road) mean?

道 (Michi) (noun) – Road; street; path; way; route; the course you take. This simple kanji carries a rich variety of meanings, from a physical road you walk on to a metaphorical way or method of doing something. It’s a foundational word in Japanese that often appears in compound words and expressions.

Kanji details for 道

Character: 道 — road-way, street, district, journey, course, moral, teachings
Radical: walk 辵 (辶, ⻌, ⻍)

Example sentences with 道 (Road)

• この道をまっすぐ行ってください。
  (Kono michi o massugu itte kudasai.)
  🚶‍♂️ Please go straight along this road.

• 道に迷ってしまいました。
  (Michi ni mayotte shimaimashita.)
  ❓ I got lost on the way.

• 成功への道は簡単ではない。
  (Seikō e no michi wa kantan de wa nai.)
  💡 The path to success is not easy.

道 (Road) in context

道 is one of those beautiful Japanese words that works on many levels. Literally, it means a road or street, the physical path you take to get somewhere. But it also has a deep metaphorical meaning: “the way” or “the method” of doing something, often connected to personal growth, philosophy, or art.

You’ll see 道 in many compound words that describe traditional Japanese arts and disciplines, such as 茶道 (sadō, the way of tea), 書道 (shodō, the way of calligraphy), 剣道 (kendō, the way of the sword), and 武道 (budō, martial way). In these cases, 道 represents a lifelong journey of learning and self-improvement.

In everyday conversation, 道 is used for directions, talking about streets, or describing a course of action. It’s a versatile word that connects the literal and the figurative, making it a cornerstone of Japanese language and culture.