tao

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /daʊ/ UK /daʊ/ See IPA manual

Homophones

Minimal pairs

Sounds like thou /ð/ vs /d/

Meanings

1

noun
in Chinese philosophy, the absolute principle underlying the universe; the way

The sage taught that one should live in harmony with the tao.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · in chinese philosophy, the... way path principle dao

Word family

Derived forms taoismtaoist

Related forms daodaoism

Etymology

From Mandarin Chinese dào ('way, path, principle'), the central concept of Taoist philosophy; traditionally romanized 'tao' in the Wade-Giles system, now often 'dao' in Pinyin.

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# tao

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /daʊ/
**IPA (UK):** /daʊ/

## Meanings
1. in Chinese philosophy, the absolute principle underlying the universe; the way

## Examples
- The sage taught that one should live in harmony with the tao.

## Synonyms
- way
- path
- principle
- dao

## Derived Forms
- taoism
- taoist

## Related Forms
- dao
- daoism

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: 道

## Etymology
From Mandarin Chinese dào ('way, path, principle'), the central concept of Taoist philosophy; traditionally romanized 'tao' in the Wade-Giles system, now often 'dao' in Pinyin.

## AI Etymology
Tao is from Mandarin Chinese dào ('way, path, principle'), the central concept of Taoist philosophy; traditionally romanized 'tao' in the Wade-Giles system, now often 'dao' in Pinyin. Important recorded forms include 道 (Chinese). The modern sense continues the older lexical line without requiring a separate origin. In current use it covers in Chinese philosophy, the absolute principle underlying the universe; the way. The wider family includes derived forms such as taoism and taoist and related words such as dao and daoism.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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