Meaning of 领导
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- lead
- leading
- to lead
- leadership
- leader
Measure word: 位,個|个
How to use 领导
领导 works as a verb meaning to lead, and very often as a noun for your boss or a person in charge at work or in government. In offices people say 领导 instead of a name or title to refer to the boss. Example: 我得问问领导。(Wǒ děi wènwen lǐngdǎo.) I need to ask my boss.
领 (lǐng) has 页, a head, so think of the person at the head of the group. 导 (dǎo) means to guide, so a 领导 (lǐngdǎo) is the head who guides everyone else.
Common mistake: Learners often use 领导 for leading someone by the hand or guiding a small group on a trip, where 带领 (dàilǐng) or 带 (dài) is more natural. 领导 sounds formal and suggests authority. Also keep the tones as third plus third, so 领 is said closer to a rising tone: líng dǎo.
领导 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
领 lǐng · neck · 11 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
导 dǎo · to direct · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 领导.
| 导演 | dǎoyǎn | to direct; director (film etc) |
| 带领 | dàilǐng | to guide; to lead |
| 指导 | zhǐdǎo | to guide; to direct; to instruct; coach; trainer |
| 领先 | lǐngxiān | to lead; to be in front |
| 本领 | běnlǐng | skill; ability |
| 导致 | dǎozhì | to lead to; to create; to cause; to bring about |
| 引导 | yǐndǎo | to guide; to lead (around) |
| 导游 | dǎoyóu | tour guide; guidebook |
| 占领 | zhànlǐng | to capture; to seize; to occupy by force |
| 领带 | lǐngdài | necktie |
| 向导 | xiàngdǎo | guide |
| 主导 | zhǔdǎo | leading; dominant |
Questions about 领导
What does 领导 mean?
领导 (lǐngdǎo) means "lead; leading" and is used as a verb and noun.
How do you write 领导?
领导 is made of 2 characters: 领 (11 strokes), 导 (6 strokes). That is 17 strokes in total.
Is 领导 an HSK word?
Yes. 领导 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 领导 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 领导 is written 領導.
Can I call my boss 领导 to their face?
Yes, in many Chinese workplaces people address a superior as 领导, for example 领导好 (lǐngdǎo hǎo). It sounds respectful and a bit humorous in casual settings. In foreign companies people may use 老板 (lǎobǎn) instead.
What is the difference between 领导 and 领先?
领导 is about leading people or being the leader. 领先 (lǐngxiān) means to be ahead in a race, a score or a market, as in 我们领先两分 (wǒmen lǐngxiān liǎng fēn), we are leading by two points.