迷路|めいろmeiro[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounmaze; labyrinth
   市しの北きたのはずれは路地ろじの迷路めいろである。↗

   The northernmost part of the city is a maze of alleys.
2. nouninner ear

• Synonym迷宮めいきゅうNeutralRefers to a maze-like building, and figuratively to a case that hits a dead end, as in 「迷宮入り」; 「迷路」 usually means a game or a road you can't get out of.
• SynonymラビリンスNeutralA loanword for a labyrinth, typically carrying mythological or fantasy overtones; in everyday speech 「迷路」 is the normal choice.

For winding roads you can't get out of or the paper maze game, use 「迷路」. For a maze-like building or an unsolved case (「迷宮入り」) say 「迷宮」, and 「ラビリンス」 adds a mythological or fantasy flavor.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 複雑ふくざつに入り組いりくんだ道みち。いったん入はいると、出でられなくなるような道みち。
2. 右図うずのように紙かみや地面じめんなどに書かいて、入口いりぐちから出口でぐちまで抜け出ぬけだすゲーム。
3. 道みちを見失みうしなう。