direction

Compared meaning: advice or instruction given to someone (noun).

比较义项：给予某人的指导、建议（名词）。

• direction 本词

  Direction implies authoritative instruction or oversight, often from someone in charge; it can carry a sense of command, as in the phrase 'follow someone's direction'.

  direction 含有来自负责人或上级的权威性指令或监督之意，有时带命令的语气，常见于“follow someone's direction”这类说法。

  New employees are expected to follow her direction without argument.

  新员工应该毫无异议地服从她的指示。

• guidance

  Guidance is warmer and more supportive, usually help or advice from a mentor or experienced person to someone less experienced, without implying command or authority.

  guidance 语气更温和、更具关怀性，通常是导师或有经验的人给予经验较少者的帮助或建议，不带权威或命令的意味。

  Her guidance helped the nervous freshman settle into college life.

  她的指导帮助那个紧张的大一新生适应了大学生活。

Both words mean advice or instruction given to someone. Direction stresses authoritative, binding instruction from someone in charge, and sounds formal. Guidance stresses caring, experienced advice, and sounds gentler, without any sense of command. Direction's meaning 'a way or course' is not compared here.

这两个词都表示给予某人指导或建议，但 direction 更强调来自权威或上级的、带有约束力的指令或引导，语气较正式；guidance 更强调出于关心与经验的建议或指点，语气温和，不带命令意味。这里不比较 direction 的“方向”义项。

Compared meaning: information that tells you how to do something (noun).

比较义项：教你如何做某事的说明或指示（名词）。

• instruction

  Instruction can be a firm command from someone in authority, spoken or written, and is common in formal settings like the military, exams, or manuals; often used in the singular for one step.

  instruction 可以是来自权威人士的坚定命令，可以是口头的也可以是书面的，常见于军队、考试或说明书等正式场合；常用单数形式表示一个步骤。

  The drill sergeant's instruction was simple: keep quiet and follow him closely.

  教官的指令很简单：保持安静，紧紧跟随他。

• direction 本词

  Direction (usually plural directions) is more neutral, focused on the steps needed to complete a task or reach a place; it lacks instruction's sense of a command from an authority figure.

  direction（通常用复数 directions）语气更中性，侧重完成某项任务或到达某地所需的步骤；不带有 instruction 那种来自权威人士下达命令的意味。

  The directions for assembling the shelf were confusing and hard to follow.

  组装这个架子的说明令人困惑，很难照着做。

Both can mean information telling you how to do something. Instruction is more formal, often a command you must follow. Direction (usually plural) is more neutral, focused on steps to finish a task or reach a place. Not compared: direction's 'way' sense, instruction's 'teaching' sense.

instruction 和 direction 在“教你如何做某事的说明”这个意义上很接近，但 instruction 语气更正式、更带权威性，常指必须严格遵守的命令；direction（通常用复数 directions）语气更中性，侧重完成任务或到达某处所需的步骤。这里不比较 direction 表示“方向”的义项（如原例句中“走错方向”），也不比较 instruction 单纯表示“教学”的义项。