Tao
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See also: tao
English
Etymology 1
From the Wade–Giles romanization of Mandarin 道 (Dào, literally “The Way”): Tao4.
Alternative forms
- Dao, dao (Hanyu Pinyin)
- tao (also from Wade–Giles)
Pronunciation
Proper noun
Tao
- (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, 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
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Noun
Tao (countable and uncountable, plural Taos)
- Alternative form of tao (“art or skill in harmony with essential nature”)
Etymology 2
Proper noun
Tao
- 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
Borrowed from Yami Tao (“the Tao/Yami language”), from Yami tao (“human; person”), from Proto-Philippine *tau, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tau, from Proto-Austronesian *Cau. Compare Ibatan tawo, Tagalog tao, Ilocano tao.
Pronunciation
Proper noun
Tao
- an Austronesian ethnic group native to Orchid Island (Lanyu) of Lanyu, Taitung County, Taiwan
Synonyms
References
- Rau, Der-Hwa Victoria 何德華, Dong, Maa-Neu 董瑪女 (2018) 臺灣南島語言叢書(14):達悟語 - 語法概論 [Taiwan Austronesian Languages Series (14): Tao language - Introduction to Grammar], New Taipei City: 原住民族委員會, →ISBN, archived from the original on 4 November 2021, page 8
- Dong, Maa-Neu 董瑪女, Rau, Der-Hwa Victoria 何德華, Chang, Ann Hui-Huan 張惠環, editors (2012), 達悟語詞典 Yami (Tao) Dictionary, Taipei: 國立臺灣大學出版中心 , →ISBN, page 238
- Blust, Robert, Trussel, Stephen (2010–) “*Cau”, in The Austronesian Comparative Dictionary
Etymology 4
Borrowed from Georgian ტაო (ṭao)
Pronunciation
Proper noun
Tao
- (historical) a historical region of Georgia (country)