率いる
ひきいる · hikiiru · JLPT N1 · verb-ichidan
to lead
🚩 Sounds like 引き (hiki, pull): a leader pulls the group along
率 (ritsu) means rate or ratio: the leader sets the pace the group follows. Its kun reading ひきいる is the verb for leading a team or troops.
率 — twisted silk threads with droplets, plus 十
率 originally pictured a net or twisted bundle of silk cords with water droplets shaking off, suggesting something being led or pulled along. From 'leading a rope' it extended to 'lead, command' (shuài) and to 'rate, ratio' (lǜ), as in a fixed proportion. The two readings share this core image of a guiding measure.