‘曲径’ literally means ‘curved path’ or ‘winding path’ — ‘曲’ (qū) means ‘bent,’ ‘curved,’ or ‘twisting,’ and ‘径’ (jìng) means ‘path,’ ‘trail,’ or ‘narrow road.’ Together, they evoke a narrow, meandering trail, often found in natural or classical garden settings. This word carries poetic and aesthetic connotations, frequently appearing in traditional Chinese poetry and landscape descriptions to suggest quiet seclusion, rustic charm, or serene discovery.

It’s commonly used in literary, descriptive, or scenic contexts — especially when evoking classical gardens, mountain trails, forest walks, or tranquil park scenes. While it can refer to any physically winding path, it’s rarely used for modern urban sidewalks or highways; its tone is more lyrical and evocative than utilitarian. You’ll often see it paired with words like ‘通幽’ (tōng yōu, ‘leading to seclusion’) in the famous phrase ‘曲径通幽’ — a set expression meaning ‘a winding path leads to a secluded, peaceful place.’