Usage patterns 地じ 道みち な 努ど 力りょく steady, unglamorous effort
He kept up steady effort and made his dream come true.
地じ 道みち に 〈 動どう 詞し 〉 to do something steadily and without flash
She keeps studying steadily, without cutting corners.
地じ 道みち な 仕し 事ごと steady, unglamorous work
It's unglamorous work, but it's rewarding.
Kanji 道 road-way, street, district Related words 着実 stresses sure, steady progress toward a goal, while 地道 highlights unglamorous, ground-level effort behind that progress.
真面目 describes a person's earnest, diligent character, whereas 地道 describes the steady, unflashy nature of an effort or method itself.
堅実 emphasizes financial or practical solidity and low risk, while 地道 emphasizes patient, unglamorous persistence in general effort.
地道 is a noun/adjectival term for a steady, honest approach to work, while コツコツ is the adverbial mimetic word describing the actual step-by-step action of doing it.
Don't confuse with 地味 describes plain, subdued appearance or style, while 地道 describes steady, honest effort or attitude; learners often mix them up due to the similar sound and shared kanji 地 .
Etymology Compound of 地 (ground, earth) and 道 (way, path), literally 'ground path', suggesting a down-to-earth, steady approach.
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