Meaning of 道路
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- road
- path
- way
Measure word: 條|条
How to use 道路
道路 is a more formal, general word for roads, often used in news, signs, and talk about traffic or construction. It can also mean a path in life, as in 人生道路 (rénshēng dàolù), one's life path. Example: 这条道路很宽。(Zhè tiáo dàolù hěn kuān.) This road is very wide.
道路 joins two characters that both mean road: 道 (dào) and 路 (lù). 路 has a foot 足 on its left side, so picture feet walking along a road, while 道 has the walking component 辶 wrapping around it.
Common mistake: Learners often use 道路 in casual speech where 路 (lù) or 马路 (mǎlù) sounds more natural, for example saying 我在道路上 instead of 我在路上 (wǒ zài lù shang). Also keep both syllables in fourth tone: dàolù, not dǎolù.
道路 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
道 dào · road · 12 strokes
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路 lù · road · 13 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 道路.
| 知道 | zhīdào | to know; to become aware of; also pr. [zhi1dao5] |
| 路上 | lùshang | on the road; on the way; en route |
| 走路 | zǒulù | to walk; to go on foot; to leave; to depart |
| 马路 | mǎlù | street; road |
| 路口 | lùkǒu | crossing; intersection (of roads) |
| 味道 | wèidào | flavor; taste; (fig.) feeling (of ...); sense (of ...); hint (of ...) |
| 道理 | dàolǐ | reason; argument |
| 公路 | gōnglù | highway; road |
| 路边 | lù biān | curb; roadside; wayside |
| 一路顺风 | yīlù-shùnfēng | to have a pleasant journey (idiom) |
| 一路平安 | yīlù-píng'ān | to have a pleasant journey; Bon voyage! |
| 问路 | wènlù | to ask for directions; to ask the way (to some place) |
Questions about 道路
What does 道路 mean?
道路 (dàolù) means "road; path" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 道路?
道路 is made of 2 characters: 道 (12 strokes), 路 (13 strokes). That is 25 strokes in total.
Is 道路 an HSK word?
Yes. 道路 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What measure word goes with 道路?
Use 条 (tiáo), the measure word for long, narrow things. For example, 一条道路 (yì tiáo dàolù) means one road.
Is the 道 in 道路 the same 道 as in 知道?
Yes, it is the same character. In 知道 (zhīdào, to know) it is usually read in the neutral tone, but in 道路 and 味道 (wèidào) it keeps its fourth tone.