Translation and Meaning of: 道 - michi

The Japanese word 「道」 (michi) transcends a simplistic translation of "path" or "road," encompassing deeper and spiritual meanings. Etymologically, 「道」 is composed of the radical 「辶」 which represents "movement" or "path," and the phonetic element 「首」, which refers to "first" or "head." Together, these elements evoke the idea of a main trajectory or path to be followed, both literally and figuratively.

In broader terms, 「道」 is central to various philosophies and traditional practices of Japan and East Asia. For example, in the context of Taoism, the Chinese version of the word, "Tao", means the "way" or underlying "principle" that structures the universe. Hence comes the idea of something that is not only physical but also spiritual and philosophical, reflecting a way of life that is in harmony with the cosmos.

In Japanese daily life, 「道」 is also used in various contexts, from the literal to the more metaphorical. The word appears in combinations such as 「剣道」 (kendo, "the way of the sword"), 「柔道」 (judo, "the gentle way"), or 「茶道」 (sado, "the way of tea"), indicating disciplines or practices that follow a specific path of physical, mental, and spiritual development.

The influence of 「道」 in Japanese culture demonstrates the importance of balance and harmony in everyday life. Thus, 「道」 is not just a physical route, but a fundamental concept that can guide personal and philosophical decisions, reflecting the essence of seeking a harmonious path in all facets of life. Considering the richness of this term, it invites us to reflect on what our own journey means and the paths we choose to follow.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 街路 (gairo) - Public street or road, usually in urban areas.
• 道路 (dōro) - Path or road, usually referring to traffic ways.
• 通り (tōri) - Street or passage; it can also refer to commercial areas.
• 途中 (tochū) - On the way, during the journey, refers to an intermediate point.
• 途上 (tojō) - Similar to 途中, but relatively more formal, usually used in specific contexts.
• 途中道路 (tochū dōro) - Road in the middle of the way, referring to a route in a journey.
• 途上道路 (tojō dōro) - Road in an intermediate state, more formal than 途中道路.
• 通行 (tsūkō) - Traffic, passage; refers to the act of transiting through a path.
• 通行路 (tsūkō ro) - Road or passageway; refers to a specific route for transit.
• 通路 (tsūro) - Path or corridor; more commonly used in internal contexts.
• 交通路 (kōtsū ro) - Traffic road; refers to routes designated for transportation.
• 交通道路 (kōtsū dōro) - Public transport road; more focused on vehicle movement.
• 通行許可 (tsūkō kyoka) - Passage permission; authorization to use a specific route.
• 通行止め (tsūkō dome) - Prohibition of passage, traffic blockage on a road.
• 通行禁止 (tsūkō kinshi) - Prohibition of passage, a more formal term for traffic restriction.
• 通行止める (tsūkō domeru) - Block the passage; act of preventing traffic on a road.
• 通行する (tsūkō suru) - To carry out the act of transiting; verb to refer to traffic.
• 通行量 (tsūkō ryō) - Traffic volume; the number of vehicles or people using a road.
• 通行人 (tsūkō nin) - People who move; refers to pedestrians or travelers on a route.
• 通行料 (tsūkō ryō) - Toll; any cost associated with the use of a road.
• 通行権 (tsūkō ken) - Right of way; legal right to travel on a roadway.
• 通行手形 (tsūkō tegata) - Authorization document for passage; more specific in legal contexts.
• 通行税 (tsūkōzei) - Toll; government tax on the use of certain roads.
• 通行止めにする (tsūkō dome ni suru) - Decide to block the passage; the act of officially creating a prohibition.
• 通行止めになる (tsūkō dome ni naru) - Become a roadblock; it refers to a situation where a route is officially closed.
• 通行止めになること (tsūkō dome ni naru koto) - The fact of becoming a blockage; implies the condition of a route being permanently closed.
• 通行止めになる場合 (tsūkō dome ni naru baai) - Case in which it becomes a blockage; reference to circumstances that lead to a blockage of passage.
• 通行止めになる理由 (tsūkō dome ni naru riyū) - Reasons for a blockage; justification for the ban on passage.
• 通行止めになる時間 (tsūkō dome ni naru jikan) - Time it takes to become a blockage; duration of the blockage of passage.
• 通行止めになる期間 (tsūkō dome ni naru kikan) - Duration of a blockage; time interval during which the road will be closed.

道

Romaji: michi
Kana: みち
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: estrada; rua; caminho; método

Meaning in English: road;street;way;method

Definition: A space that refers to a place or position and is used for passage and movement.

Example Sentences - (道) michi

See below some example sentences:

報道は真実を伝えることが重要です。

Houdou wa shinjitsu wo tsutaeru koto ga juuyou desu

It is important to convey the truth in the press.

• 報道 - report, news
• は - Topic particle
• 真実 - truth
• を - direct object particle
• 伝える - Transmit, communicate
• こと - action noun
• が - subject particle
• 重要 - important
• です - verb to be in the polite form

大柄な男性が道を歩いている。

Otokonoko ga michi wo aruite iru

Um homem grande está caminhando pela rua.

Um homem grande está andando na estrada.

• 大柄な - grande porte
• 男性 - man
• が - subject particle
• 道 - caminho/rua
• を - direct object particle
• 歩いている - caminhando (forma contínua do verbo 歩く)

崩壊した建物が道路を塞いでいる。

Houkai shita tatemono ga douro wo fusai de iru

Um prédio em ruínas está bloqueando a estrada.

O prédio desabado está bloqueando a estrada.

• 崩壊した - colapsado, desmoronado
• 建物 - building, construction
• が - subject particle
• 道路 - estrada, rua
• を - direct object particle
• 塞いでいる - bloqueando, obstruindo

幹線道路は交通の要所です。

Kansendouro wa koutsuu no yousho desu

A estrada principal é um ponto -chave do transporte.

• 幹線道路 - estrada principal
• は - Topic particle
• 交通 - tráfego
• の - Possession particle
• 要所 - ponto chave
• です - verb "to be" in the polite form

彼は道を引き返した。

Kare wa michi o hikikaeshita

He turned back.

He's back.

• 彼 (kare) - He
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 道 (michi) - Caminho
• を (wo) - Direct object particle
• 引き返した (hikikaeshita) - He went back.

彼は道から逸れてしまった。

Kare wa michi kara soreru shita

He got off track.

He veered off the road.

• 彼 - The Japanese personal pronoun that means "he" is "彼" (kare).
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 道 - Japanese noun meaning "way"
• から - particle indicating origin or starting point in Japanese
• 逸れて - Japanese verb that means "to deviate" or "to distance oneself"
• しまった - past form of the Japanese verb "shimau", which indicates completed action or negative result

彼は道を折り返した。

Kare wa michi o orikaeshita

He turned back on the road.

He returned to the road.

• 彼 - The Japanese personal pronoun that means "he" is "彼" (kare).
• は - topic particle indicating that the subject of the sentence is "he"
• 道 - Japanese noun meaning "way"
• を - object particle indicating that "way" is the direct object of the action
• 折り返した - Japanese past tense verb meaning "came back"

末には必ず道がある。

Sue ni wa kanarazu michi ga aru

At the end

There is always a road at the end.

• 末には - "In the end"
• 必ず - "Certamente"
• 道がある - "There is a way"

棒は野球の道具です。

Bou wa yakyuu no dougu desu

The stick is baseball equipment.

The stick is a baseball tool.

• 棒 - bastão
• は - Topic particle
• 野球 - beisebol
• の - Possession particle
• 道具 - ferramenta
• です - é (verb to be in the polite form)

機関車が鉄道を走っています。

Kikansha ga tetsudō o hashitte imasu

A locomotive is running on the railway.

• 機関車 - locomotiva
• が - subject particle
• 鉄道 - ferrovia
• を - direct object particle
• 走っています - está correndo