领导

• Pinyin: lǐng dǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 领 = 令 (command) + 页 (head), meaning to lead from the front; 导 = simplified from 導, meaning to guide along a path

Meaning

Leader; to lead; leadership. Used for people in charge at work, in government, or in organisations.

Extremely common in Chinese work culture. As a noun, 领导 refers to any superior or manager — from a team leader to a company president to a government official. As a verb, it means to lead or direct. In Chinese workplaces, people often refer to their boss as 领导 rather than by name. Can also be used as a title.

Examples

1. 领导让我们下午开个会。 The boss asked us to have a meeting this afternoon.
2. 他是我们公司的领导。 He is the leader of our company.
3. 这个项目由王经理领导。 This project is led by Manager Wang.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, government, organisations

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 领导，这个报告请您看一下。(Leader, please have a look at this report.)
• 我们需要一个好的领导。(We need a good leader.)

Don't Say

• 我的领导是我的好朋友。(In Chinese work culture, 领导 carries a formal connotation. If they are a close friend, you might use their name in private rather than the formal title.)

Origin & History

领 means to lead (originally neck, the part at the front); 导 means to guide or direct. Together: to lead and guide — leadership.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal