道路

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 道路 is a noun read どうろ, referring to a road constructed for the movement of people or vehicles.
• Basic usage: Use 道路に for something located or formed on the road and 道路を進む when the road is the route traveled.
  • 大雨で道路に大きな水たまりができた。 says that heavy rain formed a large puddle on the road; この道路をまっすぐ進むと駅に着く。 states that if one continues straight along this road, one will reach the station.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 道路に水たまりができる
  • に marks the location where the puddle forms.
• 道路を進むと
  • を marks the route traveled, and と introduces the natural result of reaching the station after continuing straight.
• 道路 and 道
  • 道 can broadly mean a path, road, or figurative way, while 道路 specifically identifies a physical road provided for travel.