dǎo

direct, lead

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
已 simplified component

  Simplified component

  

already

Shorthand for the phonetic component in the traditional character .

寸 meaning component

  Meaning component

cùn

  

(hand), inch

Evolution

导 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
导 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
导 Clerical script Wu (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Clerical script

Wu (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
导 Traditional script Modern

Traditional script

Modern
导 Simplified script Modern

Simplified script

Modern
Definitions

() 

dǎo

direct, guide, lead, conduct; to transmit; to lead; to guide; to conduct; to direct

Most common words with 导
Freq.
Word
Meaning

领导

lead

导致

to lead to

指导

to guide

引导

to guide

导弹

guided missile