How to say "guide" in Japanese

• 導くみちびくJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe verb for guiding in the sense of leading: it covers showing someone the way or leading them toward a place, a course of action, or a result.
  彼女かのじょは老人ろうじんを部屋へやに導みちびいた。↗

  She led the old man into the room.
• ガイドJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbA guide in the tourist sense: the person who shows visitors around, or the guiding itself. The word you want when talking about sightseeing and tours.
  ガイドが私わたしたちをホテルまで案内あんないしてくれた。↗

  The guide led us to the hotel.
• 目当てめあてCommon
  nounFor 'guide' this means a landmark or reference point you steer by, not a person or book; it is seldom the word you want for guiding people, its core sense being a mark or landmark.
• 手引書てびきしょCommon
  nounThe 'guide' that is a book: a handbook, manual, or primer explaining how to do something. Use it for written guides, not for a person leading the way.
  こういう手引てびき書かきはもっと分わかりやすく書かくべきだ。↗

  Such manuals should be written in simpler language.
• 道案内みちあんないCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe act of showing someone the way: guiding a person along roads or to a destination. Choose it when 'guide' means literally leading someone somewhere, not instructing them from a book.
  その学生がくせいは親切しんせつにも私に道案内みちあんないをしてくれた。↗

  The student was kind enough to show me the way.

Choose 「導く」 when guiding means leading someone toward a goal, 「ガイド」 for tourist guides, 手引書 for a written manual or handbook, 道案内 for showing someone the way, and 「目当て」 only for a landmark or reference point.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 導くみちびくto guide
• ガイドguide
• 目当てめあてmark
• 手引書てびきしょhandbook
• 道案内みちあんないguidance
• 案内書あんないしょguidebook
• 仕様書しようしょmanual
• 指導者しどうしゃleader
• 導しるべguidance
• 導き手みちびきてguide
• 先導者せんどうしゃguide
• 案内人あんないにんguide (on a tour, etc.)
• 案内役あんないやくguide
• 案内者あんないしゃguide
• 教え導くおしえみちびくto teach (the way)
• 案内係あんないがかりinformation desk personnel
• 啓迪けいてきedification
• 方向付けるほうこうづけるto direct
• 上首じょうしゅchief
• 案内記あんないきguidebook
• 図師ずしinstructor
• 稽古をつけるけいこをつけるto give lessons
• 便利帳べんりちょう(convenience) guide
• 入門書にゅうもんしょprimer
• 目印めじるしlandmark
• 手引きてびきguide
• 入門にゅうもんintroduction (to)
• 指針ししんguiding principle
• 先達せんだつguide
• 道しるべみちしるべguide
• 階梯かいていguide
• 引き回すひきまわすto order about
• 嚮導きょうどうleader
• 木鐸ぼくたくleader
• 道芝みちしばguidance (sometimes esp. referring to guidance in love)
• 早わかりはやわかり(beginner's) guide
• 攻略こうりゃくstrategy