Details
Description
Way/Path - the Tao, philosophy, way of life.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of '辶' (advance) and '首' (head). The direction one heads toward - the path.
Symbolism
Life's path, way of discipline, path to truth. Fundamental concept in Japanese culture: martial arts, tea ceremony, calligraphy.
Spiritual Meaning
Beyond physical paths, represents lifes path and spiritual cultivation in martial arts, tea ceremony. Fundamental Eastern philosophy concept.
Component Breakdown
Walk + head
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
悪逆無道
あくぎゃくむどう
treacherous; heinous; treasonous
言語道断
ごんごどうだん
outrageous; preposterous; scandalous
人道主義
じんどうしゅぎ
humanism; humanitarianism
黄道吉日
おうどうきちにち
very auspicious day for all types of occasions
王道楽土
おうどうらくど
Arcadia, presided over by a virtuous king
文武両道
ぶんぶりょうどう
being accomplished in both the literary and military arts; doing well in both school and sports
極悪非道
ごくあくひどう
inhuman; heinous; atrocious
道聴塗説
どうちょうとせつ
shallow-minded mouthing of secondhand information
暴虐非道
ぼうぎゃくひどう
violent and cruel; tyrannical and atrocious
悪逆非道
あくぎゃくひどう
heinous; treacherous; atrocious
残酷非道
ざんこくひどう
inhumanity; atrocity; abominable cruelty
世道人心
せどうじんしん
(public) morals and sentiments
大逆無道
たいぎゃくむどう
heinous; treacherous; atrocious
道心堅固
どうしんけんご
being of firm (unshakable) faith and strict practice
無理非道
むりひどう
unreasonable and unjust; unconscionable
六道輪廻
ろくどうりんね
endless circle of transmigration in the six posthumous worlds
二河白道
にがびゃくどう
the road to paradise is a white road between two rivers, one of water (wrath) and one of fire (greed)
道を譲る
みちをゆずる
To yield the way; To give way to others
Proverbs & Idioms
道についた
みちについた
To have found one's way
To have found one's calling or path in life
千里の道も一歩から
せんりのみちもいっぽから
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
Great achievements start with small beginnings
Poetry
由良のとを 渡る舟人 かぢを絶え ゆくへも知らぬ 恋の道かな
Like a boatman crossing the Strait of Yura who has lost his oar — this path of love, with no knowing where it leads.
大江山 いく野の道の 遠ければ まだふみも見ず 天の橋立
Mount Oe and the road through Ikuno are far. I have never set foot there, nor even seen a letter from Amanohashidate.
世の中よ 道こそなけれ 思ひ入る 山の奥にも 鹿ぞ鳴くなる
There is no road out of this world. Even deep in the mountains where I fled, a stag is crying.
この道や行く人なしに秋の暮
This road — no one walking it, and autumn dusk.
Anime & Manga
ヒカルの碁
Hikaru no Go
Coming-of-age story through the 'way' of Go
バガボンド
Vagabond
Depicts Miyamoto Musashi's pursuit of the way of the sword
月が導く異世界道中
TSUKIMICHI -Moonlit Fantasy-
A well-known work with 道 in its Japanese title.
極主夫道
The Way of the Househusband
A well-known work with 道 in its Japanese title.
坂道のアポロン
Kids on the Slope
A well-known work with 道 in its Japanese title.
Games
ファイナルファンタジーX
Final Fantasy X
RPG depicting the summoner's pilgrimage - a spiritual 'way'
View on Amazon →Related Figures & Stories
道元
Founder of Soto Zen, with this character in his name
He went to Song China, learned seated meditation as practice in itself, and returned to found Eiheiji. His Shobogenzo was the first systematic work of Zen written in Japanese.
菅原道真
Name contains 道
Sugawara no Michizane mʲi.tɕiꜜ.za.ne, sɯ.ŋa-], August 1, 845 – March 26, 903), or Kankō , was a scholar, poet, and politician of the Heian period of…
Wikipedia蕭道成
Name contains 道
Emperor Gao of Southern Qi 齊高帝; 427– 11 April 482), personal name Xiao Daocheng , courtesy name Shaobo , childhood name Doujiang , was the founding…
Wikipedia西郷従道
Name contains 道
Saigō Jūdō , also known as Saigō Tsugumichi, was a Japanese politician and admiral in the Meiji period.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 道 mean in Japanese?
道 means way, path, the Way. Way/Path - the Tao, philosophy, way of life.
How do you read 道?
On'yomi: ドウ、トウ (DOU, TOU). Kun'yomi: みち、いう (michi, iu).
How many strokes does 道 have?
道 has 12 strokes. Its radical is 辶 (walk).
Is 道 a good kanji for a tattoo?
道 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means way, path, the Way. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.