引导
yǐndǎo · HSK 4
guide
🧭 引 = draw/pull (bow 弓 + line 丨); 导 = lead → pull and lead = guide
引 pictographically shows a bow 弓 with an arrow-line drawn back, giving 'pull, draw out'. 导 means 'lead, direct'. Together: pull someone along and lead them — to guide.
引 — bow 弓 + vertical stroke 丨
A compound ideograph showing a bow 弓 with a vertical line 丨 representing the drawn bowstring. The original meaning was 'to draw a bow,' which extended to 'pull,' 'lead,' 'guide,' and 'cite.' The vertical stroke depicts the action of pulling the string back.