Translation guide
The English word 'guiding' can refer to physically leading someone, providing direction or advice, or serving as a principle that influences actions. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for these meanings.
To guide someone by walking with them or showing the way to a destination.
The most common and general verb for guiding someone to a place, showing them around, or providing information about a location.
彼は私を駅まで案内してくれた。
He guided me to the station.
The guide is guiding the tourists.
Implies leading or guiding, often with a sense of showing the way or leading to a goal. Can be used for physical guidance but is slightly more formal or literary.
先生が生徒たちを山道へ導いた。
The teacher guided the students along the mountain path.
Literally 'take and go', meaning to take someone somewhere. It implies accompanying and guiding, but focuses on the act of taking rather than showing the way.
友達を病院に連れて行った。
I guided/took my friend to the hospital.
To guide someone by giving advice, instructions, or moral direction.
To guide, instruct, or coach someone, often in an educational, professional, or skill-development context. Implies active teaching or direction.
上司が新人を指導している。
The boss is guiding the new employee.
彼は若手選手の指導にあたっている。
He is guiding the young players.
To give advice or counsel. Less formal than 指導する, and often used for personal or informal guidance.
先輩が進路について助言してくれた。
My senior guided me on my career path.
Can also be used metaphorically for guiding someone's thoughts, actions, or life direction. Often implies a deeper, more inspirational guidance.
Literally 'show directionality'. Used when guiding by indicating a general direction or policy, often in business or project contexts.
経営陣が会社の方向性を示した。
The management guided the company's direction.
To guide as an abstract principle, value, or force that shapes decisions or behavior.
Pattern: [principle] + を導く. Used to say that something guides or leads a person or action. Often used with words like 行動 (action), 判断 (judgment), etc.
この理念が私たちの行動を導いている。
This philosophy is guiding our actions.
Passive form: 'to be guided by ~'. Emphasizes being led or influenced by something.
彼は強い信念に導かれて決断した。
He made the decision guided by strong conviction.
To serve as a guiding principle or guideline. Often used for rules, policies, or moral standards.
この規則は行動の指針となる。
This rule serves as a guiding principle for behavior.
案内する is for physical guidance (showing around, leading to a place). 導く can be physical or abstract, often with a sense of leading to a goal or enlightenment. 指導する is for instructional guidance, like coaching or teaching. Choose based on whether you're guiding physically, inspirationally, or instructionally.
English often uses 'guiding' as a noun (e.g., 'the guiding of tourists'). In Japanese, it's more natural to use the verb form or a noun like 案内 (annai) or 指導 (shidou) depending on context. For example, 'guiding tourists' is 観光客の案内, not 案内すること.
His words guided me in the right direction.