道路（どうろ、douro）
- road

The Japanese word 道路 (douro) primarily means "road" or "street". It refers to a constructed surface, usually paved, designed for the passage of vehicles, pedestrians, and sometimes other means of transportation. It encompasses various types of roads, from small residential streets to major highways. It’s a fundamental part of the infrastructure for transportation and travel.

⚫︎この道路はとても広いです。 Translation: This road is very wide. ⚫︎道路工事のため、通行止めです。 Translation: The road is closed due to construction. ⚫︎自転車は道路の左側を走ってください。 Translation: Please ride your bicycle on the left side of the road.

You can use 道路 in various contexts related to transportation, directions, and infrastructure. It is a common word, and you can use it in everyday conversation. It’s useful when talking about traveling, driving, walking, or describing locations.

道路 is written in kanji as 道路. The reading is どうろ (douro) in hiragana. There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana (送りがな) doesn’t change.

⚫︎ 道 (michi) - "road," "path," or "way" (more general and can refer to paths, trails etc. as well) ⚫︎ 通り (toori) - "street" or "avenue" ⚫︎ ストリート (sutorīto) - "street" (loanword)

While there isn't a direct antonym, words that describe the absence or disruption of a 道路 might be considered opposites in a conceptual sense. For example, 未舗装の道 (mifusou no michi) – an unpaved road.

毎朝、私はこの道路を歩いて学校に行きます。 ・Translation: Every morning, I walk on this road to school. ・Explanation: This sentence describes a daily routine of walking along a 道路.

この道路は交通量が多いので、注意が必要です。 ・Translation: This road has a lot of traffic, so you need to be careful. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the importance of caution due to heavy traffic on the road.

The word 道路 is a combination of two kanji: 道 (michi), meaning "road" or "path," and 路 (michi or ro), also meaning "road" or "way." The combination emphasizes the concept of a constructed and designated path for travel.