导 dǎo — to transmit; to lead; to guide; to conduct; to direct
这位导游很热情。Zhè wèi dǎo yóu hěn rè qíng.This tour guide is very warm.
Common words: 领导 (lǐng dǎo)、导演 (dǎo yǎn)、指导 (zhǐ dǎo)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to guide"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to guide", including 导 (dǎo), 引 (yǐn). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to guide" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 导 (dǎo), 引 (yǐn) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span dǎo, yǐn — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 导 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 导 dǎoto transmit; to lead; to guide; to conduct; to directUseful words: 领导, 导演
- 引 yǐnto lead; to divert (water); to guideUseful words: 引起, 吸引
Common words for these 2 "to guide" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 导 (dǎo) — so "to guide" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "to guide".
引 yǐn — to lead; to divert (water); to guide
这本书深深地吸引了我。Zhè běn shū shēn shēn de xī yǐn le wǒ.This book attracted me deeply.
Common words: 引起 (yǐn qǐ)、吸引 (xī yǐn)、引导 (yǐn dǎo)
All 2 characters
Open 导、引 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.