Translation and Meaning of: 経由 - keiyu

Explanation and Etymology - (経由) keiyu

The word 「経由」 (keiyu) is a Japanese expression that primarily means "via" or "passing through." It is commonly used to describe a route, path, or method that involves making a stop or passage through a certain location or point before reaching the final destination. On many occasions, it is used in contexts related to transportation, travel, and logistics, indicating the itinerary or intermediate points of a journey.

Etymologically, 「経由」 is composed of two kanji: 「経」 (kei) and 「由」 (yu). The kanji 「経」 carries the meanings of "to pass", "to cross" or "to occur", while 「由」 means "reason", "cause" or "origin". The combination of these kanji forms a word that refers to passing or crossing through something with a specific purpose or reason. The radicals involved in these characters, such as 糸 (to spin, in「経」) and 田 (field, in「由」), help to build the broad sense of passage and origin inherent to the term.

The historical origin of the word dates back to ancient times in Japan, where routes and paths were fundamental for trade, communication, and transportation between regions. The word has been adapted for modern use, encompassing not only physical movements but also the means and methods by which something is accomplished. For example, in modern contexts, 「経由」 can be used metaphorically to describe the way an idea or message is disseminated, passing through intermediaries before reaching its target audience.

In addition to its use in travel, 「経由」 can also be found in descriptions of administrative and logistics processes. For example, a document or package may be described as "経由" when indicating that it will pass through several departments or stages before reaching its final destination. As a result, the term permeates various areas of daily and professional life, reflecting the importance of routes and intermediate points both in geography and in organizational practices.