Tao is composed of the walking radical and 首 shou head. It originally meant that which passes through, a road to be walked upon, and then by extension a road or method to be followed, as in philosophy, and even in stealing. Hence Taoism, the Doctrine of the Way, as taught by Lao Tzŭ , in antagonism to the Way taught by Confucius. 道人 tao jen was a term for Buddhists down to the end of the 5th cent. A.D., and Mr. T. W. Kingsmill has identified tao with the Buddhist mârga, the path which leads to Nirvana.

Tao, with a phonetic. It seems to have originally meant a dry measure holding about a pint. It was used for 得 tê to get, to attain; and it is just possible that from the sense of attainment, achievement, it came to mean the exemplification of virtue in good works.