noun
shortcut; back road; secret path
A lesser-known or unofficial route that lets you avoid the main road, often used to bypass traffic or reach a destination faster.
渋滞を避けるために抜け道を使った。
I took a back road to avoid the traffic jam.
地元の人しか知らない抜け道がある。
There's a shortcut that only locals know about.
noun
loophole; way out; escape route
A figurative way to avoid rules, responsibilities, or difficult situations; often used in legal, social, or personal contexts.
法律の抜け道を探す企業もある。
Some companies look for loopholes in the law.
彼はいつも抜け道を考えて責任を逃れようとする。
He always tries to find a way out to avoid responsibility.
近道 is a straightforward shortcut that reduces distance or time, while 抜け道 often implies a hidden or less-traveled route, and can also mean a loophole.
裏道 is a back street or alley, often physically behind main roads; 抜け道 emphasizes the function of bypassing or escaping, and can be used figuratively.
Compound of 抜ける (nukeru, 'to slip through, to exit') and 道 (michi, 'road, path'). The figurative sense developed from the idea of a path that lets you slip past obstacles.