带路
dài lù · HSK 7
to lead the way
🧭👣 带 (belt/bring) + 路 (road) = bring someone along the road
A belt pulls things forward; a road is the path. Together they mean to pull someone forward along the path — to lead the way, to guide.
带 — belt/sash 巾 at bottom + ornaments above
带 originally pictured a belt or sash with hanging ornaments or pendants tied at the waist; the bottom 巾 (cloth) reinforces the textile meaning. From the literal 'belt' it extended to 'carry, bring along' (as a belt holds things) and to 'zone/region' (a strip of land).
路 — foot 足 + each 各 (phonetic)
路 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The foot radical 足 on the left signals meaning related to walking or travel, while 各 on the right hints at the ancient pronunciation. Originally referring to a road traveled on foot, it broadened to mean 'road, path, route' in general.