The difference between 路 and 道?
Your usage of character formation may not be always correct. E.g., 露 used to have that meaning (well before the 12th century AD), but now it means &quot;water drops (on/from plants)&quot;.
In general, 道 is a bit more abstract than 路, silimar to &quot;path&quot; and &quot;road&quot; in English. 路 often means the road you're going on, and 道 can have the meaning of &quot;method/approach&quot;.

– 你从哪条路过来的？ Which road did you come from?
– 我从那条小道过来的。 I came from that small path.

Usually they are interchangeable, but sometimes...

条条大路通罗马。 (not 大道)
All roads lead to Rome. (not &quot;path&quot;)
(road name) XX大道 (Blah Boulevard)
XX大路？ (Blah Big Road)

道 can also mean a social subject,

混白道，混黑道 (do business and run gangs)
白路/黑路 (white road and black road)