途 (tú) — way, road, route
Definition
途 is a bound literary word meaning 'road, route' — used only inside set phrases like 前途 ('future') and 旅途 ('journey'). Use 路 in everyday speech; 途 marks a formal, written register.
bound form
wayroadroute
Easily confused
- 逾yúlook-alike(verb) to exceed, to surpass; to increase, become even more
- 图túsound-alike(noun) picture, drawing, chart, map
- 涂túsound-aliketo apply (paint, cream, etc.), to smear, to daub
- 徒túsound-alike(bound form) disciple, follower (in compounds like 门徒, 信徒)
- 屠túsound-aliketo slaughter (animals for food)
- 荼túsound-alike(literary) a bitter edible plant (sowthistle)
Examples
- ，。Lù tú yáo yuǎn, wǒ men dé zǎo diǎn chū fā.The road is long, so we need to set out early.
- ，。Guī tú màn màn, bù jué yǐ shì huáng hūn.The journey home is long, and before I knew it, dusk had fallen.
- ，。Qián tú wèi bǔ, dà jiā dōu hěn dān xīn.The future is uncertain; everyone is very worried.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú途
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
途 is made from 辶 (written fully as 辵), a walking part, and 余, which gives the sound.
Appears in
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