迷路
Meanings
1
An actual maze or labyrinth, or a maze-like arrangement of paths. Common with verbs such as 迷路に入る, 迷路で迷う, and 迷路を抜ける.
The children played in the maze at the park.
It took thirty minutes to get out of this maze.
2
inner ear; labyrinth of the inner ear
An anatomical term referring to the labyrinth of the inner ear; this is a domain-specific medical/anatomical use, not the everyday 'maze' meaning.
See also: 内耳
The labyrinth is in the inner ear and is involved in hearing and balance.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉の迷路に迷い込むto wander into and get lost in a maze
The tourist got lost wandering into the maze-like old town.
- 迷路を抜けるto make one's way out of a maze
After hours, we finally made it out of the maze.
- 迷路のような〈場所〉a place that is maze-like in structure
The inside of the building had corridors that were like a maze.
- 〈事〉の迷路にはまるto get trapped in a metaphorical maze (of confusion, thought, etc.)
He got trapped in a maze of thought and couldn't come up with an answer.