Keywords: dàilǐng, 带领, how to say lead in Chinese, Chinese word for guide, dailing meaning, 带 vs 带领, 领导 vs 带领, Chinese leadership, guide a team in Chinese, lead an army in Chinese, HSK 4 vocabulary.
Summary: Learn the Chinese verb “带领” (dàilǐng), which means “to lead” or “to guide.” This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage. Discover the difference between “带领” and similar words like “领导” (lǐngdǎo), and see how it describes a hands-on, active style of leadership, from a tour guide leading tourists to a CEO guiding a company into the future.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): dàilǐng
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 4
Concise Definition: To lead, guide, or show the way for a group of people.
In a Nutshell: `带领` is about being at the front, actively guiding a group towards a destination or a goal. Think of a tour guide physically walking ahead of a group, or a team captain leading their players onto the field. It implies direct involvement, responsibility, and the action of bringing people along with you on a journey.
Character Breakdown
带 (dài): The core meaning is “to bring,” “to carry,” or “to take along.” Imagine a belt (the character contains the radical for a towel/cloth, 巾) that carries things for you. It's about bringing something or someone from one place to another.
领 (lǐng): This character means “to lead,” but its original meaning is “neck” or “collar.” The collar is at the very front and top of a piece of clothing, guiding its shape. This beautifully illustrates the idea of being at the head or “neck” of a group.
When combined, 带领 (dàilǐng) creates a vivid image: “to bring along (带) by being at the neck/head (领).” It's the action of leading from the front.
Cultural Context and Significance
`带领` embodies a practical, hands-on form of leadership that is highly valued in Chinese culture. It's not just about giving orders from an office; it's about being on the ground, showing the way, and sharing the journey with the group. This reflects a collectivist mindset where the leader is an integral, active part of the team, not a distant authority figure.
In Western culture, “to lead” can often be abstract, focusing on vision, strategy, and delegation. While `带领` can encompass these, its core feeling is more akin to a “guide” or “mentor.” A Western manager might “lead” a project by assigning tasks, whereas a Chinese manager who `带领`s a project is often expected to be deeply involved, solving problems alongside their team. It’s the difference between pointing the way and walking the path with others.
Practical Usage in Modern China
`带领` is a common and versatile verb used in various formal and informal contexts.
In Business and the Workplace: A team leader (组长 zǔzhǎng) or manager (经理 jīnglǐ) will 带领 their team (团队 tuánduì) to complete a project or achieve a sales target. It emphasizes the active role of the leader in the process.
In Travel and Tourism: This is one of the most literal uses. A tour guide (导游 dǎoyóu) 带领 a group of tourists (游客 yóukè) to visit scenic spots.
In Sports: The team captain (队长 duìzhǎng) will 带领 the players onto the field or inspire them during a match.
In a Metaphorical Sense: It's often used in news and formal speeches to describe visionary leadership. For example, a CEO might 带领 the company towards a new era of innovation, or a political leader might 带领 the country towards prosperity.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
他带领我们团队完成了一个非常重要的项目。
Pinyin: Tā dàilǐng wǒmen tuánduì wánchéngle yí ge fēicháng zhòngyào de xiàngmù.
English: He led our team to complete a very important project.
Analysis: A classic example from a business context. `带领` here implies the leader was actively involved, not just delegating.
Example 2:
导游带领游客参观了故宫。
Pinyin: Dǎoyóu dàilǐng yóukè cānguānle Gùgōng.
English: The tour guide led the tourists on a visit to the Forbidden City.
Analysis: This is the most literal usage of `带领` - physically guiding a group.
Example 3:
在他的带领下，我们取得了巨大的成功。
Pinyin: Zài tā de dàilǐng xià, wǒmen qǔdéle jùdà de chénggōng.
English: Under his leadership, we achieved great success.
Analysis: The structure “在…的带领下” (zài…de dàilǐng xià) is very common and means “under the leadership of…”. It's a great pattern to memorize.
English: As parents, we should guide our children to learn how to distinguish right from wrong.
Analysis: This example shows a more abstract, moral guidance. The parents are actively showing the way, not just telling.
Example 7:
新的CEO能带领公司走出困境吗？
Pinyin: Xīn de CEO néng dàilǐng gōngsī zǒuchū kùnjìng ma?
English: Can the new CEO lead the company out of its difficulties?
Analysis: A common question in business news. `带领…走出` (dàilǐng…zǒuchū) means “to lead…out of”.
Example 8:
将军带领军队赢得了战斗。
Pinyin: Jiāngjūn dàilǐng jūnduì yíngdéle zhàndòu.
English: The general led the army to win the battle.
Analysis: `带领` is appropriate for military contexts, though the more formal `率领 (shuàilǐng)` can also be used.
Example 9:
老师带领学生们做了一个有趣的实验。
Pinyin: Lǎoshī dàilǐng xuéshēngmen zuòle yí ge yǒuqù de shíyàn.
English: The teacher led the students in doing an interesting experiment.
Analysis: Emphasizes the teacher's active, participatory role in the classroom activity.
Example 10:
他带领大家唱起了国歌。
Pinyin: Tā dàilǐng dàjiā chàng qǐle guógē.
English: He led everyone in singing the national anthem.
Analysis: A simple, social example. The person who `带领`s is the one who starts and guides the group activity.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
`带领 (dàilǐng)` vs. `领导 (lǐngdǎo)`: This is the most common point of confusion.
`带领` focuses on the action of leading, guiding, and being at the front. It's about the process. A tour guide `带领`s, but is not a `领导`.
`领导 (lǐngdǎo)` is more about the position of authority and the formal act of managing or being in charge. It can be a verb (“to lead”) or a noun (“a leader/boss”). Your boss is your `领导`.
Correct: 我的老板带领我们完成了项目。(My boss led us to finish the project. - Emphasizes the action).
Correct: 他是我们的领导。(He is our leader/boss. - `领导` used as a noun).
Incorrect: 他是我们的带领。 (`带领` is a verb, not a noun for a person).
`带领 (dàilǐng)` vs. `带 (dài)`:
`带 (dài)` is simpler and broader, meaning “to bring” or “to take.” It can be used for people, animals, or objects. It doesn't necessarily imply a goal or leadership.
`带领` is more formal, always involves a group of people, and implies leading them towards a specific goal or destination.
Correct: 我带你去电影院。(Wǒ dài nǐ qù diànyǐngyuàn. - I'll take you to the cinema. Simple action).
Correct: 经理带领团队去参加会议。(Jīnglǐ dàilǐng tuánduì qù cānjiā huìyì. - The manager led the team to attend the meeting. More formal, implies purpose).
Awkward: 我带领你去电影院。 (This sounds overly formal and strange, as if you're a tour guide for one person).
Related Terms and Concepts
领导 (lǐngdǎo) - The more formal term for leadership, often referring to a position of authority or the noun “leader/boss.”
指导 (zhǐdǎo) - To guide or instruct, focusing more on teaching or providing expert advice. A professor `指导`s a student's thesis.
率领 (shuàilǐng) - A more formal and literary term, often used in military or epic contexts, meaning “to command” or “to lead an army.”
带头 (dàitóu) - To take the lead, to set an example by being the first one to act. It emphasizes initiative.
领队 (lǐngduì) - A noun for a person: “team leader,” “tour leader,” or the head of a delegation.
引导 (yǐndǎo) - To guide or to lead, often in a more abstract, gentle, or ideological way (e.g., guiding public opinion, guiding a child's development).
带 (dài) - The simpler root verb “to bring,” “to carry,” or “to take along.”