---
title: "Didao Meaning: 地道 (dìdao) Means “authentic”"
description: "地道 (dìdao) means “authentic; genuine”. Hear its tones, see what 地 and 道 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/didao"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 地道 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

地道 dìdao

## authentic; genuine

## It can also mean

- up to standard; proper
- tunnel; underground passage

## Its characters

1. 地 dì earth
2. 道 dào road

## In a sentence

这条地道通往河对岸。 This tunnel leads to the other side of the river.

外婆说的是**地道**的湖南话，手机上显示的文字往往乱七八糟，十句里能猜出两三句就不错了。

From [六十秒 · Sixty Seconds: a Chinese short story](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/sixty-seconds-chinese-short-story#library-word-175-177)

[More about 地道](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%9C%B0%E9%81%93)

## More words with 地 or 道

- [报道 bàodào](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/baodao)
- [本地 běndì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bendi)
- [草地 cǎodì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/caodi)
- [产地 chǎndì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chandi)
- [场地 chǎngdì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/changdi)
- [大地 dàdì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dadi)
- [当地 dāngdì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dangdi)
- [道德 dàodé](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daode)
- [道具 dàojù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daoju)
- [道理 dàoli](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daoli)

## Keep 地道 for Review

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