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山道 (yamamichi) Japanese meaning: mountain road | Kotomora

山やま道みち

also: さんどう · せんどう

や

ま

み

ち

Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

mountain road; mountain trail

Refers to a path or road through mountains, often unpaved or narrow. Can be used for hiking trails or rural mountain routes.

この山やま道みちは夏なつでも涼すずしい。

This mountain trail is cool even in summer.

山やま道みちを登のぼるのに疲つかれた。

I got tired climbing the mountain road.

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉を歩あるくto walk along a mountain road/trail
毎まい朝あさ、山やま道みちを歩あるいて学がっ校こうに通つうっている。
Every morning I walk along a mountain trail to get to school.
〈場ば所しょ〉を登のぼるto climb up a mountain road/trail
険けわしい山やま道みちを登のぼって山さん頂ちょうを目め指ざした。
We climbed up the steep mountain trail toward the summit.
〈場ば所しょ〉が続つづくfor a mountain road/trail to continue on
この先さきも細ほそい山やま道みちが続つづいている。
The narrow mountain road continues on from here.
〈場ば所しょ〉を下くだるto descend a mountain road/trail
急きゅうな山やま道みちを下くだるのは危き険けんだ。
Going down a steep mountain trail is dangerous.

Expressions

山やま道みちにかかるcome to a mountain path; reach a mountain trail

Kanji

山mountain
道road-way, street, district

Related words

登と山ざん道どう
登山道 specifically refers to a marked trail used for mountain climbing, while 山道 is a broader term for any road or path through mountains, paved or not.
林りん道どう
林道 is a road cut through a forest, often for logging or vehicle access, while 山道 covers any mountain path regardless of forest cover.
峠とうげN2
山道 is any mountain path or trail, while 峠 specifically names the highest point where the path crosses a ridge.

Don't confuse with

参さん道どう
参道 is the approach path leading to a shrine or temple, while 山道 is a generic mountain road, and the two are easily mixed up because 山道 can also be read さんどう.

Counted with

本ほんN5
book; volume; script · this; present; current; in question · main; head; principal · real; genuine; regular; proper · counter for long cylindrical objects; counter for films, TV shows, etc.; counter for goals, home runs, etc.; counter for telephone calls

Built from

山やま+道みち

Written forms

山道Usage100%
- やまみち
  Standard kanji spelling; the most common reading is やまみち.
- さんどう
  Alternate reading, less common in modern Japanese.
- せんどう
  Rare alternate reading; may appear in older texts or specific contexts.

Etymology

Compound of 山 (yama, 'mountain') and 道 (michi, 'road/path'). The reading やまみち is the standard kun'yomi combination. Alternate readings さんどう and せんどう use on'yomi and are less common.

さんどう

せんどう