journey - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
journey Word Meanings
- a trip from one place to another
- a process of personal change and development
- an adventurous undertaking
journey Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
journey Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈdʒɜːni/
US
/ˈdʒɜrni/
journey Word Etymology
Jour- comes from 'jour' (day in Old French), while -ney is derived from 'nee,' meaning 'to make.' The journey thus reflects the passage of time and experiences during a day’s travel; imagine packing your bags in the morning and returning by sunset, marking both the distance traveled and the change experienced.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I tighten my laces and push off the curb, moving from one place to another. The road keeps changing under my feet as I turn a little, slow my pace, and adjust my rhythm. The effort feels steady but small, a push I hold onto while the city slides by. In time, the rhythm becomes a journey inside me, guiding decisions and feelings the moment I face a new path.
Real Context
Journey is a flexible English word that covers travel, personal growth, and bold undertakings. As a noun, it usually refers to a trip from one place to another or the experience of moving through a place over time. As a verb, to journey is less common in everyday speech, but it appears in phrases like to journey through life to describe ongoing change. In everyday use, travelers speak of a journey, explorers describe a journey's challenges, and writers treat a journey as a metaphor for transformation. Learners should keep in mind that journey inherently emphasizes process and change, not just distance.
Usage Reminders
- 1) Journey often implies process or transformation as well as travel.
- 2) Distinguish journey (process) from trip (specific travel).
- 3) Use journey through life for metaphorical meanings.
- 4) Be alert to collocations like long journey, difficult journey, embark on a journey.
- 5) Prefer journey as a noun; to journey as a verb is poetic and rarer in everyday speech.
- 6) When traveling, pair journey with prepositions such as on a journey or make a journey.
Common Misconceptions
- Journey always means a long distance travel
- Journey and travel are interchangeable in all contexts
- Journey cannot be used for short trips
- Journey is only a metaphor and never a real trip
- The verb journey is common in everyday speech
Thinking Differences
English speakers often blend travel and personal-change senses of journey, so learners should watch for metaphorical uses and the rarity of the verb form in daily speech.
Learning Tips
- Practice all three senses: travel, growth, and bold undertaking.
- memorize common collocations long journey, difficult journey, embark on a journey.
- Differentiate noun journey from verb journey; prefer noun usage in everyday English.
- Use metaphorical sentences like journey through life to express change.
- Compare with trip and travel in short practice drills.
- Listen for on a journey as a fixed prepositional phrase.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What does the word 'journey' mean?
A.A type of food
B.A small gathering of friends
C.A new invention
D.A long trip or voyage
Step 2: Usage
In which of the following sentences is 'journey' used correctly?
A.I had a journey to the store to buy groceries.
B.Let's go on a journey to the park for a picnic.
C.Journey me your phone number, please.
D.The journey of the new recipe was exciting.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which of the following words is similar to 'journey'?
A.Adventure
B.Sleeping
C.Station
D.Busy
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'journey'?
A.Open
B.Stay
C.Arrive
D.Holiday
Step 5: Mastery
Can you give an example of a real-life 'journey' you have been on?
A.Reading a book
B.Texting a friend
C.Watching a movie
D.Moving to a new city for a job
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
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