How to say "lead" in Japanese

• 引くひくJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbOnly covers 'lead' in the physical sense of leading an animal, such as a horse; otherwise it means to pull or tug. For guiding people or groups, this is not the word you want.
  カーテンがゆっくり引ひかれた。↗

  The curtains were drawn slowly.
• リードCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe loanword for being ahead or taking the initiative: holding a lead in a game, race, or contest. Use it when 'lead' means being in front rather than guiding others.
  そのレースでは彼かれがリードしている。↗

  He has the lead in the race.
• 過ごすすごすJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'lead' only in the phrase 'lead a life'; the verb really means to spend time or to live. For any other sense of 'lead' it is not the word you want.
  お元気げんきでお過すごしのことと思おもいます。↗

  I hope this letter finds you well.
• 導くみちびくJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbUse this when 'lead' means to guide: showing the way or bringing a person to a destination. It is about direction and guidance, not command or being ahead.
  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.
• 率いるひきいるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers 'lead' in the sense of heading a group: leading a team or organization as its head, or commanding troops. Choose it when 'lead' means command or leadership of people.
  しかし城しろにたどりつくなり、近衛兵このえへいを率ひきいた人ひとによって、わたしはこの牢獄ろうごくに勾引こういんされてしまった。↗

  However, when I finally reached the castle I was thrown into this prison by the commander of the imperial guard.

For 'lead', choose 「導く」 when guiding, 「率いる」 when heading a group, 「リード」 when being ahead in a contest, 「過ごす」 only in 'lead a life', and 「引く」 only for physically leading an animal.

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

• 引くひくto pull
• リードlead
• 過ごすすごすto spend (time)
• 導くみちびくto guide
• 率いるひきいるto lead
• 鉛なまりlead (Pb)
• 先立つさきだつto lead
• 先頭せんとうhead (of a line, group, etc.)
• 手がかりてがかりclue
• 統率とうそつcommand
• 手引きてびきguidance
• 音頭おんどlead (in a cheer, toast, song, etc.)
• 督するとくするto lead
• インテルlead
• 采配を振るさいはいをふるto lead
• リード線リードせんlead (electronics)
• 先に立つさきにたつto lead
• トップに立つトップにたつto lead
• 先陣を切るせんじんをきるto lead (an advance)
• 音頭をとるおんどをとるto take the lead (of a group of people)
• 主旋律しゅせんりつmain melody
• 芯しんwick
• 歩むあゆむto tread (a figurative path)
• 営むいとなむto carry out
• 糸口いとぐちclue
• 擁するようするto command
• 導入部どうにゅうぶintroductory part
• 引っさげるひっさげるto lead (e.g. troops)
• 引き紐ひきひもlead (e.g. for a dog)
• 采配を振るうさいはいをふるうto lead
• 引き回すひきまわすto order about
• 送るおくるto spend (time)
• 引っ張るひっぱるto lead (e.g. one's followers)