导致 (dǎo zhì) — to cause, to lead to (often a negative outcome)

Definition

Formal written verb for 'to cause / lead to' (often negative outcomes). Stronger and more formal than 引起, with a direct cause→result link; 造成 emphasizes the harm done, 引发 focuses on triggering an event.

verb

to causeto lead to (often a negative outcome)

Examples

导致。
Tā de bú rèn zhēn dǎo zhì le zhè cì shī bài.
His carelessness caused this failure.
导致。
Cháng qī áo yè huì dǎo zhì jiàn kāng wèn tí.
Long-term staying up late can cause health problems.
导致。
Zhè chǎng dà yǔ dǎo zhì le yán zhòng de dǔ chē.
This heavy rain caused serious traffic jams caused serious traffic jams.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

导dǎolead

致zhìcause

导 means to lead, 致 means to cause; together they mean to bring about.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 導; 导 is its simplified writing.

道寸導

Meaning part形符xíngfú

寸寸cùnhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

道

道dào導

Same sound today

The traditional form 導 pairs 道 (path) as the sound part with 寸 (hand), giving the sense of leading someone. The simplified 导 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 导 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

至攵致

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攵Written in full as攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

至

至zhì致zhì

Same sound today

致 pairs 至, used for its sound, with 攵, written in full as 攴.

Open 致 →

Appears in