導く

• Reading: みちびく
• Romaji: michibiku
• Kanji breakdown: 導 (dō/michibi) — to guide, to lead
• Pronunciation: /mi.tɕi.bi.kɯ/

Meaning

To guide; to lead; to conduct. Used for leading people or bringing about a result.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the く row. Can mean physically guiding someone or abstractly leading to a conclusion or result. Related to 指導 (guidance/instruction) and 導入 (introduction/implementation). Common in leadership, education, and problem-solving contexts.

Examples

1. 先生が生徒たちを正しい答えに導いた。 The teacher guided the students to the correct answer.
2. この道は山の頂上に導く。 This path leads to the top of the mountain.
3. チームを勝利に導くのがキャプテンの役目だ。 It's the captain's job to lead the team to victory.

Usage Guide

Context: education, leadership, problem-solving

Tone: purposeful

Origin & History

The kanji 導 combines 辶 (road radical) and 道 (way/path), reinforcing the meaning of showing someone the way forward.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal