古道 (gǔ dào) — (noun) ancient path; historic trail; (noun, figurative) traditional principles; ancient moral values

Definition

Literally 'ancient path,' 古道 is mostly used today in the set phrase 古道热肠, meaning warm-hearted and chivalrous — the 'ancient path' imagery evokes an old-time, generous spirit.

noun
ancient pathhistoric trail(noun, figurative) traditional principlesancient moral values
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 古道。
    Zhè tiáo gǔ dào shì táng dài xiū jiàn de.
    This ancient path was built in the Tang dynasty.
  • 古道，。
    Tā tuī chóng gǔ dào, zuò rén jiǎng xìn yòng.
    He advocates ancient principles and values keeping one's word.
  • 古道。
    Tā de gǔ dào rè cháng yíng dé le dà jiā de zūn jìng.
    His warm-hearted nature (from 'ancient path, warm heart') earned everyone's respect.

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.

古gǔancient
道dàoroad or way

古 means ancient, 道 means road or way; an ancient road suggests old principles or trails.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

One reading of 古 sees a shield-like shape above an open mark, showing strength and firmness. Another sees a person spitting out bad-tasting food.

Open 古 →

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
行行xíngstreet
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𩠐
首shǒu道dào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Open 道 →

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