道: the kanji for road, way, path
道 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means road, way, path. Below are its readings, 14 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
道 is written in 12 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
道 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 14 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ドウ (dou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 水道すいどう · suidō | water supply |
| 歩道ほどう · hodō | sidewalk |
| 道路どうろ · dōro | road |
| 書道しょどう · shodō | calligraphy |
| 柔道じゅうどう · jūdō | judo |
| 報道ほうどう · hōdō | news report |
| 北海道ほっかいどう · Hokkaidō | Hokkaido |
| 鉄道てつどう · tetsudō | railway |
トウ (tou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 神道しんとう · Shintō | Shinto |
みち (michi)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 道みち · michi | road; way |
| 近道ちかみち · chikamichi | shortcut |
| 帰り道かえりみち · kaerimichi | the way home |
| 道順みちじゅん · michijun | route; directions |
| 片道かたみち · katamichi | one way |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 道に迷ってしまいました。Michi ni mayotte shimaimashita.I got lost.
- 大阪まで片道いくらですか。Ōsaka made katamichi ikura desu ka.How much is a one-way ticket to Osaka?
- 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.
- 水道料金を払いました。Suidō ryōkin o haraimashita.I paid the water bill.
- 帰り道にスーパーに寄ります。Kaerimichi ni sūpā ni yorimasu.I'll stop by the supermarket on the way home.
- 週に一回、書道を習っています。Shū ni ikkai, shodō o naratte imasu.I take calligraphy lessons once a week.
Questions about 道
How many strokes does 道 have?
道 is written in 12 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 道?
The on readings are dou (ドウ), tou (トウ). The kun readings are michi (みち).
Why do 柔道, 書道 and 茶道 all end in 道?
道 (dō) means "way" or "path." Traditional Japanese arts use it to show a lifelong path of practice: 柔道 (jūdō), 剣道 (kendō), 書道 (shodō, calligraphy) and 茶道 (sadō, tea ceremony).
What JLPT level is 道?
N4. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Places and buildings
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 道
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.