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轨道 (guǐ dào) — rail, track (for trains, subways); orbit (of a satellite or celestial body); (figurative) a path, trajectory, or course in life, career, or development

Definition

Used for the literal rail/orbit, and figuratively for a life or career path — but the figurative sense is less common than 轨迹. 跑道 is the athletic runway; 线路 is the transport route (bus, power).

noun
railtrack (for trains, subways)orbit (of a satellite or celestial body)(figurative) a pathtrajectoryor course in lifecareeror development
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 轨道。
    Zhè tiáo dì tiě guǐ dào quán cháng sì shí gōng lǐ.
    This subway line extends 40 kilometers.
  • 轨道。
    Rén zào wèi xīng yǐ jīng jìn rù yù dìng guǐ dào.
    The satellite has entered its intended orbit.
  • 轨道。
    Tā bì yè hòu hěn kuài zhǎo dào le rén shēng guǐ dào.
    He quickly found his life path after graduation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

轨guǐtrack
道dàopath

轨 and 道 both refer to a track or path; together they name a rail track or orbit.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 軌; 轨 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jū
Sound part声符shēngfú
九
九jiǔ軌guǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 軌 pairs 車 (cart) with 九 as a sound part; the simplified 轨 is a later shorthand.

Open 轨 →

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 →
Appears in
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