指導 and 指示: Teaching a skill and directing an action
Compare guidance about posture or machine use with instructions to begin an experiment or proceed in a direction. Read the content taught and the action directed.
Guidance about posture and machine use
指導 means guidance or instruction. 「コーチの指導を受けて、走る姿勢を直した。」 states that the speaker corrected their running posture after receiving a coach’s guidance.
「新人には、先輩が機械の扱い方を指導する。」 says a senior employee teaches newcomers how to handle a machine. It identifies the skill taught, without separately establishing the newcomers’ mastery or completed learning.
An experiment’s start and a direction to follow
指示 means an instruction or direction. 「先生の指示に従って実験を始めました。」 says the experiment was started according to the teacher’s instructions. Starting the experiment is not finishing the whole experiment.
「係員は入口で進む方向を指示しました。」 says an attendant indicated which way to proceed at the entrance. The direction being given does not itself establish completed movement.
Teaching and directing in the same setting
指導 focuses on helping someone learn a posture or method of use. 指示 focuses on a specific action or direction communicated to someone. Both can occur in the same educational setting.
Do not impose a rule that guidance is always long-term and instructions are always brief. Read what is taught or directed, rather than distinguishing the words solely by the job of the person involved.
What do 指導 about using a machine and 指示 about beginning an experiment each emphasize?
Show the answer and why
指導 emphasizes teaching a skill or method of use. 指示 emphasizes the specific action of starting the experiment. The distinction is not based solely on a person’s occupation or the duration.