往路

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The written form is 往路, read おうろ. Elements for going and route combine to denote the outward leg toward a destination.
• Basic usage: 往路は contrasts the outward route with the return, while 往路では locates an event on the outbound leg of a race.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Contrast with the return
  • It distinguishes the route taken going out from the different route used on the return. Example: 往路は海沿いの道を通り、帰りは山道を選んだ。 — We took the coastal road on the outward journey and a mountain road on the way back.
• One leg of a round trip
  • In a race it can single out the outward leg when describing a condition such as a headwind. Example: 大会の往路では向かい風に苦しんだ。 — We struggled against a headwind on the outbound leg of the race.