無む道どう

also: ぶどう · ぶとう

む

ど

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

Describes actions, behavior, or attitudes that are cruel, unjust, or lacking moral principles. Often used in strong condemnation. Cross-referenced with 不道, which has a similar meaning.

Kanji

無nothingness, none, ain't
道road-way, street, district

Related words

不ふ道どう
Very similar in meaning; 不道 is also used for immoral or inhuman acts. 無道 may carry a slightly stronger nuance of cruelty or lack of humanity.
非ひ道どう
Also means inhuman or wicked, but 非道 is more common in modern Japanese. 無道 is less frequent and can sound more literary or emphatic.

Word family

大たい逆ぎゃく無む道どう
heinous; treacherous; atrocious
悪あく逆ぎゃく無む道どう
treacherous; heinous; atrocious
残ざん虐ぎゃく無む道どう
inhumanity; atrocity; cruelty

Written forms

無道Usage100%
- むどう
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading むどう is the most common.
- ぶどう
  Alternate reading; less common than むどう.
- ぶとう
  Alternate reading; less common than むどう.
ぶとう
ぶどう

Etymology

Compound of 無 (mu, 'without') and 道 (dō, 'morality' or 'path'), literally 'without morality'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning of lacking moral principles.