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March 24, 2026
导致(導致)dǎozhì(dao3zhi4)
导致 (dǎo zhì) means to lead to or cause something to happen. It is commonly used in various contexts such as discussing outcomes, consequences, or results of actions or events, highlighting a causal relationship.
Frequency#1759DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, understanding causality is crucial in fields like traditional medicine, where the cause of an illness is as important as the symptoms. Thus, the use of 导致 reflects a deeper understanding of connections between actions and consequences.
Memory Tip
Imagine a leader (导) guiding a group to a destination (致). Picture this leader causing a chain reaction, where each group member's action leads to a specific outcome. The '3' in 'dao3' can remind you of the three steps in a process that lead to a result.
Meanings of 导致
dǎozhì(dao3zhi4)
1to lead to
2to create
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 导致
导致Simplified
導致Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1759Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 导致
Podcast: 导致
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AI Study Notes for 导致
Quick Contrast
导致 (dǎozhì) vs 引起 (yǐnqǐ) — use 导致 for emphasizing the result of a cause, while 引起 focuses more on the initiation of an event or reaction.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a leader (导) guiding a group to a destination (致). Picture this leader causing a chain reaction, where each group member's action leads to a specific outcome. The '3' in 'dao3' can remind you of the three steps in a process that lead to a result.
Usage Notes
Be cautious of the context in which you use 导致, as it tends to be more formal and is often used in written language. It's commonly paired with phrases like '导致问题' (to cause problems) or '导致结果' (to lead to results). Avoid using it in casual conversations where simpler terms like '让' (to let) might suffice.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 导致 connects to other causative verbs like 引起 (yǐnqǐ - to trigger) and 造成 (zàochéng - to create). Focus on practicing its use in complex sentences to convey cause and effect accurately.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, understanding causality is crucial in fields like traditional medicine, where the cause of an illness is as important as the symptoms. Thus, the use of 导致 reflects a deeper understanding of connections between actions and consequences.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 导致 with similar verbs like 造成 or 引起. For example, saying '他的错误造成了事故' (tā de cuòwù zàochéng le shìgù) is incorrect in contexts where causality is emphasized; it should be '导致'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 导致
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Grammar Patterns of 导致
导致 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
牙龈萎缩可能是疾病____的，也可能仅仅是错误的刷牙方式引起的。
Receding gums can be the result of disease or simply incorrect brushing.
Example Sentences for 导致 (10)
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1
牙龈萎缩可能是疾病导致的，也可能仅仅是错误的刷牙方式引起的。
yá yín wěi suō kě néng shì jí bìng dǎo zhì de， ， yě kě néng jǐn jǐn shì cuò wù de shuā yá fāng shì yǐn qǐ。
Receding gums can be the result of disease or simply incorrect brushing.
2
这将导致马鹿的灭绝。
zhè jiāng dǎo zhì mǎ lù de miè jué。
It's going to be the death knell of the red deer.
3
恶劣的天气已经导致这个连假周末数十个航班被取消。
è liè de tiān qì yǐ jīng dǎo zhì zhè gè lián jiǎ zhōu mò shù shí gè háng bān bèi qǔ xiāo。
Bad weather has caused dozens of flight cancellations over the holiday weekend.
The intense fighting is reported to have claimed many lives.
7
他缺乏经验可能会最终导致他的失败。
tā quē fá jīng yàn kě néng huì zuì zhōng dǎo zhì tā de shī bài。
His lack of experience may prove to be his undoing.
8
已经有人猜测，该集团的问题会导致一些人被解雇。
yǐ jīng yǒu rén cāi cè， ， gāi jí tuán de wèn tí huì dǎo zhì yī xiē rén bèi jiě。
The group's problems have led to speculation that heads will roll.
9
破坏一种酶可能会导致在别处出现异常。
pò huài yī zhǒng méi kě néng huì dǎo zhì zài bié chǔ chū xiàn yì cháng。
Tampering with a single enzyme can lead to untoward effects elsewhere.
10
有些生物会导致食物变质并引起食物中毒。
yǒu xiē shēng wù huì dǎo zhì shí wù biàn zhì bìng yǐn qǐ shí wù zhōng dú。
Some organisms are responsible for spoiling food and cause food poisoning.
Cultural Notes for 导致
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, understanding causality is crucial in fields like traditional medicine, where the cause of an illness is as important as the symptoms. Thus, the use of 导致 reflects a deeper understanding of connections between actions and consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions about 导致
While it can be used in everyday conversation, it is more appropriate in formal contexts or when writing.
Some synonyms include 引起 (yǐnqǐ - to trigger) and 造成 (zàochéng - to create), but each has its nuances.
You can say '他的错误导致了事故' (tā de cuòwù dǎo zhì le shìgù) meaning 'His mistake led to the accident'.
