孔道

kǒngdào

noun

Meanings

1 passage / opening providing access
2 key thoroughfare
3 the teachings of Confucius

Characters

hole / Confucius

Examples

这条山路是进出盆地的唯一孔道。

Zhè tiáo shānlù shì jìnchū péndì de wéiyī kǒngdào.

This mountain road is the only passage in and out of the basin.

古代儒生一生奉行孔道。

Gǔdài rúshēng yīshēng fèngxíng kǒngdào.

Confucian scholars of old upheld the teachings of Confucius all their lives.

Tips

usage

Two distinct senses: (1) a physical passageway or strategic thoroughfare, and (2) 孔 (Kǒng) referring to Confucius (孔子, Kǒngzǐ), so 孔道 = 'the Way of Confucius'. Context disambiguates — geography vs philosophy.

Stroke Order

孔 kǒng

道 dào