途方

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 途方, read とほう, concerns a way forward or what to do.
• Basic usage: In 地図をなくし、山中で途方に暮れた。, the speaker lost the map and was at a loss in the mountains.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Learn the set expressions
  • 途方に暮れた and 途方を失った both mean being at a loss. Here 暮れた does not describe night falling.