Meanings of 導
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About 導
Podcast: 導
Podcast: 導
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AI Study Notes for 導
引 (yǐn) - use 引 when emphasizing the act of leading someone or something towards a specific direction or outcome, while 導 focuses more on the overall guidance or direction.
Be careful not to confuse 導 (dǎo) with the similar-sounding 到 (dào), which means 'to arrive.' 導 is typically used in more formal contexts, such as education or leadership. Common collocations include 導師 (dǎoshī) meaning 'mentor' or 'instructor.'
Although 導 is not part of the official HSK levels, it connects well with HSK 3 and 4 vocabulary related to guidance and leadership, such as 指导 (zhǐdǎo, to instruct) and 领导 (lǐngdǎo, to lead). Focus on its application in phrases and professional contexts.
Learners often incorrectly use 導 in contexts where 到 (dào) should be used, such as saying '我導到商店' (wǒ dǎo dào shāngdiàn) instead of '我到商店' (wǒ dào shāngdiàn) to say 'I arrived at the store.'
Pronunciation of 導
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Etymology of 導
Simplified form of 導. Phonosemantic compound. 寸 represents the meaning and 道 represents the sound.
A hand 寸 pointing the way to someplace 道
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 導
Simplified form of 導. Phonosemantic compound. 寸 represents the meaning and 道 represents the sound.
- 1The giveawayA hand 寸 pointing the way to someplace 道
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 導? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 導
Identify the Components
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How to say to direct, to guide, to lead, to conduct in Chinese
“to direct, to guide, to lead, to conduct” in Chinese is導
The character 導 (dǎo) means 'to direct' or 'to guide.' It is commonly used in contexts where leadership or guidance is needed, such as in teaching, navigation, or managing a team. It carries a connotation of helping others find their way or achieve a goal.
When to use 導
Be careful not to confuse 導 (dǎo) with the similar-sounding 到 (dào), which means 'to arrive.' 導 is typically used in more formal contexts, such as education or leadership. Common collocations include 導師 (dǎoshī) meaning 'mentor' or 'instructor.'
導 or something close to it
引 (yǐn) - use 引 when emphasizing the act of leading someone or something towards a specific direction or outcome, while 導 focuses more on the overall guidance or direction.
What learners get wrong
Learners often incorrectly use 導 in contexts where 到 (dào) should be used, such as saying '我導到商店' (wǒ dǎo dào shāngdiàn) instead of '我到商店' (wǒ dào shāngdiàn) to say 'I arrived at the store.'
Write 導
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Practice writing 導 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 導
Compound Meaning
What does 领导 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 導
導 (dǎo) emphasizes leading or guiding more actively, while 指导 (zhǐdǎo) often refers to instruction or providing guidance.
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