Explore 途 through a journey and expressions that extend the idea of a path. Learn each reading with a complete word.

The idea

途 has 10 strokes; follow the linked diagram. Read 途中（とちゅう） and 用途（ようと） as compounds, and 途切れる（とぎれる） with its kana ending. 途中で marks a point during a journey or process.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
途中とちゅうon the way
用途ようとuse, purpose
途切れるとぎれるto be interrupted
途方に暮れるとほうにくれるat a loss

Examples

  • 帰かえる途中とちゅうでカフェに寄よりました。We stopped at a café on the way home.
  • 旅行りょこうの途中とちゅうで雨あめが降ふり始はじめました。It started raining during the trip.
  • 用途ようとに合あわせて紙かみを選えらんでください。Please choose paper according to its use.
  • この袋ふくろにはいろいろな用途ようとがあります。This bag has many uses.
  • 会話かいわがしばらく途切とぎれました。The conversation stopped for a moment.
  • 鍵かぎが見みつからなくて途方とほうに暮くれました。I was at a loss because I could not find the key.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

途中 is a point along the way, not the destination. 用途 means a use or purpose, while 途方に暮れる is a fixed expression for being at a loss.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 途中 in hiragana.

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    とちゅう

    途中 is とちゅう: 帰る途中で means on the way home.

  2. Write the reading of 用途 in hiragana.

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    ようと

    用途 is ようと: it names what something is used for.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿中（とちゅう）［途／近］.

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    途

    途 completes 途中（とちゅう）, meaning on the way or in the middle of a process.

Use it today

Write 途 using the diagram. Cover the table, read 途中 and 用途, and make a sentence with 途中で.