里道 (lǐ dào) — inner lane (of a road or track); inside lane

Definition

The inner lane — the lane closest to the road's center divider (used on highways and tracks), as opposed to the outer lane 外道. Slower traffic typically keeps to 里道; faster traffic uses the outer lane to overtake.

noun
inner lane (of a road or track)inside lane
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • ，里道。
    Gāo sù gōng lù shàng, xiǎo xíng chē yīng gāi zǒu lǐ dào.
    On the expressway, small vehicles should use the inner lane.
  • 里道，。
    Tā pǎo zài lǐ dào, bǐ duì shǒu kuài le yì miǎo.
    He was running in the inside lane, one second faster than his opponent.
  • 里道。
    Zhuǎn wān shí qǐng tí qián jìn rù lǐ dào.
    When turning, please get into the inner lane in advance.

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.

里lǐinside
道dàolane

里 means inside and 道 means lane, so this is the inside lane.

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 裡; 里 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 里 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (里, 里面) it is 裡; in others (公里) it is 里 or 裏.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衤Written in full as衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
里
里lǐ裡lǐ
Same sound today

The form 裡 pairs 衤 (clothes) with 里 as a sound component.

Open 里 →

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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