街道

かいどう

highway

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Understanding 街道 (jiēdào)

The word 街道 primarily refers to a street or a main road in a city or town. It often implies a relatively large or important street, sometimes lined with shops, restaurants, or residential buildings.

Usage and Context

街道 is commonly used to describe urban streets where there is significant pedestrian or vehicle traffic. It can also refer to administrative divisions in some Chinese cities, but in everyday conversation, it mostly means a street or road.

Common Collocations

These collocations help describe the environment or activities related to streets.

Register and Tone

街道 is neutral and suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is more specific than just (street) and often used when emphasizing the street as a place or location.

Common Confusion

Don't confuse 街道 with (lù), which also means road or street but can be more general or refer to longer roads. 街道 often implies a more urban, pedestrian-friendly street.

Using 街道 correctly helps learners talk about places in cities and describe urban environments naturally.

Example Sentences

There are many shops and restaurants on both sides of this street.

The traffic on the street is heavy; be careful when going out.

The community streets are cleaned every day to keep them tidy and clean.