路向 (lù xiàng) — road direction; (figurative) direction, path

Definition

A somewhat formal/literary word for 'direction' or 'path', typically used in a figurative or policy sense (life direction, company direction) rather than for literal physical navigation.

noun
road direction(figurative) directionpath
Easily confused

Examples

  • 路向，。
    Zhè tiáo lù lù xiàng zǒu cuò le, wǒ men dé diào tóu.
    We've taken the wrong road direction; we need to turn around.
  • 路向。
    Tā hái zài sī kǎo rén shēng de lù xiàng.
    He is still pondering the direction of life.
  • 路向。
    Zhè ge gōng sī de lù xiàng sì hū bú tài míng què.
    The direction of this company seems not very clear.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

路lùroad
向xiàngdirection

路 names a road or path and 向 names direction, giving the direction of a road.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
足足zú
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè路lù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

路 combines 足, a foot, with 各, which supplies the sound.

Open 路 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

向 originally drew 宀 (house) with 口 to show an echo in a place; later it was used for direction.

Open 向 →

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