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March 24, 2026
路lù(Lu4)
The character 路 (lù) primarily refers to a road or path. It can also denote a journey or route, and is commonly used in contexts involving travel or transportation, such as bus lines. The nuance of the term often relates to both physical pathways and metaphorical journeys in life.
Strokes13Radical足Frequency#479DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, roads symbolize the journey of life and the various paths one can take. Major roads are often associated with historical significance, such as the Silk Road, which facilitated trade and cultural exchange.
Memory Tip
Imagine a winding road (路) leading you to a destination. The character resembles a path with a 'foot' at the bottom, symbolizing travel. Remember that 'lù' sounds like 'loo'—think of needing to find a road to the nearest restroom!
Meanings of 路
lù(Lu4)
1road
2journey
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 路
路Simplified
13Strokes
足Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#479Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 路
Podcast: 路
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AI Study Notes for 路
Quick Contrast
道 (dào) refers to a way or path, often with a philosophical or moral connotation, while 路 (lù) specifically denotes a physical road or route.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 路 (lù) with 旅 (lǚ), which means travel. 路 is more about the physical aspect of roads, while 旅 focuses on the act of traveling. Common collocations include '道路' (dàolù, road) and '路线' (lùxiàn, route).
HSK Study Tips
As HSK Level 2, 路 connects well with other transportation-related words like 车 (chē, car) and 站 (zhàn, station). Students should focus on using it in phrases about travel and directions to solidify their understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 路 with the character 途 (tú), which also means path but is used in more formal or literary contexts. A common error is saying '我在路走' (wǒ zài lù zǒu) instead of '我在路上走' (wǒ zài lù shàng zǒu), which correctly means 'I am walking on the road.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 路
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Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 各 represents the sound.
1The meaning half足 carries the sense.
2The sound half各 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayfoot
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 路? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 路?
Decomposition of 路
IDS Structure⿰足各
路Full Character
=
足ju4
left
各ge4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 路?
How to say road in Chinese
“road” in Chinese is路lù
The character 路 (lù) primarily refers to a road or path. It can also denote a journey or route, and is commonly used in contexts involving travel or transportation, such as bus lines. The nuance of the term often relates to both physical pathways and metaphorical journeys in life.
When to use 路
Be careful not to confuse 路 (lù) with 旅 (lǚ), which means travel. 路 is more about the physical aspect of roads, while 旅 focuses on the act of traveling. Common collocations include '道路' (dàolù, road) and '路线' (lùxiàn, route).
路 or something close to it
道 (dào) refers to a way or path, often with a philosophical or moral connotation, while 路 (lù) specifically denotes a physical road or route.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 路 with the character 途 (tú), which also means path but is used in more formal or literary contexts. A common error is saying '我在路走' (wǒ zài lù zǒu) instead of '我在路上走' (wǒ zài lù shàng zǒu), which correctly means 'I am walking on the road.'
Write 路
路
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Practice writing 路 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 路
路 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
