Translation guide
The English word "lead" has many meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: guiding someone, being in charge, causing a result, being ahead, and the metal. It also covers the noun form meaning a clue or example.
To take someone to a place by going in front or showing the route.
General verb for guiding or showing someone around.
彼は私を駅まで案内した。
He led me to the station.
To guide or lead, often in a more abstract or directional sense.
星が私たちを導いてくれた。
The stars led us.
To lead the way, often used in formal or ceremonial contexts.
彼が行列を先導した。
He led the procession.
To be the leader of a group, organization, or activity.
To lead a group of people, such as a team or army.
彼はチームを率いて優勝した。
He led the team to victory.
Loanword from English, often used in business or sports contexts.
彼女がプロジェクトをリードしている。
She is leading the project.
To command or direct, especially in military or musical contexts.
将軍が軍隊を指揮した。
The general led the army.
To cause something to happen or someone to do something.
Pattern meaning 'to lead to (a result)'. Used for outcomes.
その失敗が成功につながった。
That failure led to success.
To cause or bring about, often for negative events.
その政策が混乱を引き起こした。
The policy led to confusion.
Formal pattern meaning 'to be the cause of'.
喫煙が肺がんの原因となる。
Smoking leads to lung cancer.
To be winning or in front in a race, game, or contest.
Commonly used in sports and games to mean 'to lead'.
彼はレースでリードしている。
He is leading the race.
To be at the front, literally or figuratively.
彼が先頭に立って走っている。
He is running in the lead.
To take the top position, often in rankings.
そのチームがリーグでトップに立っている。
The team leads the league.
The chemical element Pb, a heavy metal.
The standard word for the metal lead.
このパイプは鉛でできている。
This pipe is made of lead.
A piece of information that helps solve a problem or serves as a model.
A clue or lead in an investigation.
警察は新しい手がかりを見つけた。
The police found a new lead.
An example or model to follow.
The past tense of 'lead' is 'led', which is pronounced like the metal 'lead'. Be careful not to confuse it with 'read' (past tense).
案内する is for physically guiding someone to a place, while 導く is more abstract, like guiding someone spiritually or intellectually.
He set a lead for other employees.