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Kotomora

路

path, route, road, distance

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • ロ
  • ル

Kun'yomi

  • -じ
  • みち

Meaning

路 centers on a way or course for travel: a path, road, or route. The distance sense is a natural extension, referring to the length of such a way.

Most common words using 路

24 of 457
  • 道路どうろ
    N3

    road; highway

  • 路線ろせん
    N1

    route (bus, train, air, etc.); line

  • 回路かいろ
    N1

    circuit

  • 通路つうろ
    N3

    passage; pathway; roadway; avenue; aisle

  • 進路しんろ
    N2

    route; course; path

  • 経路けいろ
    N1

    course; route; path; channel

  • 路上ろじょう
    N1

    on the road; on the street; in the street

  • 線路せんろ
    N3

    railway track; railway line; railroad; railway; track; line

  • 路面ろめん

    road surface

  • 路地ろじ
    N1

    alley; alleyway; lane

  • 航路こうろ
    N1

    (air or sea) route; course; line; run

  • 迷路めいろ
    N1

    maze; labyrinth

  • 水路すいろ

    waterway; canal; channel; watercourse; aqueduct

  • 帰路きろ

    return journey; one's way home; one's way back

  • 街路がいろ

    road; street; avenue

  • 販路はんろ

    market (for goods, services, etc.); outlet (for selling); opening

  • 十字路じゅうじろ
    N1

    crossroads; intersection

  • 活路かつろ

    means of survival; means of escape; way out of a difficulty

  • 陸路りくろ

    land route; overland route

  • 岐路きろ

    forked road; crossroads

  • 袋小路ふくろこうじ

    blind alley; cul-de-sac; dead end street

  • 空路くうろ

    air route; air lane

  • 海路かいろ
    N1

    sea route

  • 順路じゅんろ
    N1

    (regular) route; fixed route; specified route; suggested route

Explore all words using 路 →

Study

Etymology

路 combines 足 (foot) with 各, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of going or arriving. Together they express a path or road for walking.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side is a foot 足, and the right side 各 looks like a person arriving at a destination. Picture a foot stepping along a path to reach a place: 路 is the road you walk.

Reading mnemonic

For ロ, imagine a low road stretching into the distance: low -> ロ, and the foot 足 walks along the path.