路程 (lù chéng) — distance traveled (along a journey or between places); course (of life, development, etc.)

Definition

路程 focuses on the distance traveled (literal or metaphorical), unlike 路线, which names the route or planned path. Pairs naturally with 这段 / 一段 for 'a stretch / leg of the journey'.

noun
distance traveled (along a journey or between places)course (of life, development, etc.)

Examples

  • 路程。
    Cóng shàng hǎi dào háng zhōu de lù chéng dà yuē liǎng bǎi gōng lǐ.
    The distance from Shanghai to Hangzhou is about 200 kilometers.
  • 路程，。
    Zhè duàn lù chéng suī rán hěn duǎn, dàn fēng jǐng hěn měi.
    This stretch of road is short but the scenery is beautiful.
  • 路程。
    Rén shēng de lù chéng chōng mǎn le tiǎo zhàn hé xī wàng.
    The journey of life is full of challenges and hope.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

路lùroad
程chéngjourney

Road and journey combine to mean distance traveled.

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 →

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
禾禾hégrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
呈
呈chéng程chéng
Same sound today

程 is made from 禾 (grain) and 呈 (pronounced chéng); the evidence gives measurements.

Open 程 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Travel & Tourism

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