also: みちずれ
traveling companion; fellow traveler
A person who accompanies someone on a journey, often implying a shared experience or fate. Can be used literally or figuratively.
I stopped by a hot spring with my traveling companion.
As a companion through life, she is irreplaceable.
taking someone along unwillingly; forcing to participate
Used in the expression 道連れにする, meaning to drag someone into a situation, especially an undesirable one like death or trouble. Often carries a negative, coercive nuance.
See also: 道連れにする
When he committed suicide, he tried to take his family with him.
The company's bankruptcy dragged even its business partners down with it.
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
Search-only form using づ instead of 連; not a standard spelling.
Irregular kana usage; occasionally encountered but non-standard.
Compound of 道 (road, journey) and 連れ (companion, from 連れる 'to take along'). The coercive sense derives from the idea of forcing someone to accompany one on a path, especially to death.