* 教え (oshie) - This is the noun form meaning "teaching" or "instruction." It refers to the act of teaching itself. For example, "Good teaching" would be 良い教え (yoi oshie).
* 教える (oshieru) - This is the verb form meaning "to teach." This is what you'd use in a sentence like "I teach Japanese" (日本語を教えます - nihongo o oshiemasu).
* 指導 (shidou) - This word means "guidance" or "instruction" and is often used in more formal settings, like at a school or in a professional context. It implies a more structured and methodical approach to teaching.
* 教育 (kyouiku) - This word means "education" and refers to the broader system or process of teaching, rather than a single act of teaching.
Therefore, the best translation depends on what you want to express. If you're talking about the *act* of teaching, 教え (oshie) or 教える (oshieru) are appropriate. If you're talking about a more formal or structured approach, 指導 (shidou) might be better. And if you are referring to the entire system, 教育 (kyouiku) is the correct word.