Tao

See also: tao

English

Etymology 1

Alternative forms

• (from Hanyu Pinyin) Dao, dao
• (also from Wade-Giles) tao

Etymology

From the Wade-Giles romanization of Mandarin 道 (Dào, literally “The Way”) Wade-Giles romanization: Tao⁴.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /daʊ/, /taʊ/
• Rhymes: -aʊ

Proper noun

Tao

1. (Chinese philosophy) In Taoism, The Way, specifically the transcendental basis of nature and, and/or the ideal way to live one's life.
   • 2013, Al Gore, The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change‎^[1], New York: Random House, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page xx:

     Nor is progress exclusively a Western invention. Many interpret the Tao of ancient China as a guide for those who wish to progress as they make their way forward in the world—though its conception of progress is very different from what emerged in the West.

Translations

Chinese philosophical term

• Chinese:

  Cantonese: 道 (yue) (douh)

  Mandarin: 道 (zh) (dào)

• Finnish: tao (fi)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Korean: 도(道) (ko) (do)
• Polish: dao (pl) n, tao (pl) n
• Russian: да́о (ru) (dáo)
• Vietnamese: đạo (vi) (道)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Hungarian: tao (hu)

Noun

Tao (countable and uncountable, plural Taos)

1. Alternative form of tao (“art or skill in harmony with essential nature”)

Etymology 2

Proper noun

Tao

1. A unisex given name from Mandarin

References

• “Tao”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “Tao, pn.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “Tao”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.

Etymology 3

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Proper noun

Tao

1. an Austronesian ethnic group native to Orchid Island (Lanyu) of Lanyu, Taitung County, Taiwan

Synonyms

• Yami

Anagrams

• AOT, ATO, OTA, Ota, To'a, oat, toa