导 (dǎo) is a Chinese character meaning “to guide”. It is written from 巳 (sixth earthly branch) and 寸 (cun; inch), one above the other, and takes 6 strokes.
Build the character for “to guide”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
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Structure
巳 + 寸
Top–bottom structure
Structure from: 现代字形拆分 IDS ⿱巳寸，对照 hanzi-writer-data 笔画数核验（3+3=6）；繁体作「導」，从寸道聲，简化后上部记号化为「巳」，故上部标为 remnant
Memory aid
Under the coiled shape of 巳 sits a hand, 寸. The hand reaches out from below and points the way ahead — it guides.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
6 strokes
In real words
- 导游dǎo yóutour guide导 = dǎoHSK 4
- 领导lǐng dǎoleader; to lead导 = dǎospoken aslíng dǎoHSK 4
- 导致dǎo zhìto lead to; to result in导 = dǎo
- 辅导fǔ dǎoto tutor; to coach; tutoring导 = dǎospoken asfú dǎo
Go deeper
All readings
to guide
to guide; to lead; to conduct (heat, electricity); to direct (a film)
带领、指引；也指传导热或电，以及指导演出。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 导游dǎo yóutour guide导 = dǎoHSK 4
- 领导lǐng dǎoleader; to lead导 = dǎospoken aslíng dǎoHSK 4
- 导致dǎo zhìto lead to; to result in导 = dǎo
- 辅导fǔ dǎoto tutor; to coach; tutoring导 = dǎospoken asfú dǎo
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 导 mean?
导 (dǎo) means to guide; to lead; to conduct (heat, electricity); to direct (a film).
How do you pronounce 导?
It is pronounced dǎo.
What parts is 导 made of?
巳 (sixth earthly branch) and 寸 (cun; inch), one above the other. The recorded source is: 现代字形拆分 IDS ⿱巳寸，对照 hanzi-writer-data 笔画数核验（3+3=6）；繁体作「導」，从寸道聲，简化后上部记号化为「巳」，故上部标为 remnant. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 导 have?
6. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 导?
寸. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 导?
Common ones are 导游 and 领导. The reading of 导 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.