The Chinese word 主导 (zhǔdǎo), meaning "to dominate", "to lead", or "to play a leading role", is a verb-object compound formed by combining the character 主 (zhǔ), which means "main", "primary", or "to host", with the character 导 (dǎo), meaning "to guide", "to direct", or "to conduct". Structurally, 主 functions as an adverbial modifier describing the manner, "in a primary capacity", while 导 is the core action verb. Thus, the compound literally signifies "to guide as the main force" or "to direct in a primary capacity", evolving into its modern abstract sense of exercising principal control, influence, or leadership over a situation, process, or entity.