道みちなき道みち

Meanings

trackless path; pathless way; uncharted path

A set phrase meaning a path where no path exists, often used metaphorically for pioneering or venturing into the unknown. The classical negative なき gives it a slightly literary or poetic feel.

彼かれは道みちなき道みちを進すすみ、ついに新あたらしい市し場じょうを開かい拓たくした。
He forged ahead on a trackless path and finally pioneered a new market.
人じん生せいは道みちなき道みちを歩あゆむようなものだ。
Life is like walking a pathless way.

Kanji

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

Related words

未み開かいの地ち
Refers to uncharted land or wilderness, while 道なき道 emphasizes the absence of a path and the act of forging one.
前ぜん人じん未み到とう
Means 'untrodden by predecessors'; 道なき道 is more about the path itself being absent, often used in a metaphorical sense.

Written forms

道みちなき道みち
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling. The classical negative なき (without) is used here.
道みち無なき道みち
Kanji spelling for なき; less common and more literary.

Etymology

A phrase composed of 道 (path), the classical negative adjective なき (without), and 道 again, literally 'a path without a path'. The construction follows classical Japanese grammar, giving it a literary tone.