道

dào

辶 + 首

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

dào (noun) road; path; way

dào (noun) principle; truth; morality; reason

dào (noun) method; skill; way of doing something

dào (verb) to say; to speak

dào (noun) Dao (in Daoism)

dào (particle) measure word for long and narrow objects

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 首 represents the sound.

Semantic: 辶 Phonetic: 首

About

This character is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic component 辶 (the combined form of 辵, the movement radical) indicates a pathway, while the phonetic component 首 (head) also suggests leading or direction. Originally it referred to a physical road, path, or thoroughfare for traveling. Its meaning gradually broadened to encompass metaphorical pathways, representing methods, principles, doctrines, and the ultimate truth or cosmic order in philosophical contexts. It also shifted to function as a verb meaning 'to say' or 'to speak', particularly in classical texts and certain modern compound words.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我知道这条路。

Wǒ zhīdào zhè tiáo lù.

I know this road.

这条道路很宽。

Zhè tiáo dàolù hěn kuān.

This road is very wide.

你说得有道理。

Nǐ shuō de yǒu dàolǐ.

What you said makes sense.

他向我道歉了。

Tā xiàng wǒ dàoqiàn le.

He apologized to me.

新闻报道很重要。

Xīnwén bàodào hěn zhòngyào.

News reports are important.

这道菜味道很好。

Zhè dào cài wèidao hěn hǎo.

This dish tastes very good.

请换一个电视频道。

Qǐng huàn yī gè diànshì píndào.

Please change the TV channel.

卫星轨道计算复杂。

Wèixīng guǐdào jìsuàn fùzá.

Satellite orbit calculation is complex.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 辶

Component: 首

Example Words