to point / show
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to show the way
To show or explain to someone which direction they need to go in order to reach a destination.
Können Sie mir bitte den Weg zum Bahnhof weisen?
Could you please show me the way to the train station?
The verb 'weisen' (to point/show) by itself is rare today and belongs to a very formal or literary style. In everyday language, it is used almost exclusively in fixed expressions.
Ein Schild wies den Weg zum Ausgang.
A sign showed the way to the exit.
The basic meaning of 'weisen' (to point/show) is 'zeigen' (to show) or 'richten' (to direct). You can recognize it in many important verbs such as 'hinweisen' (to point out), 'beweisen' (to prove), 'anweisen' (to instruct), and 'verweisen' (to refer).
Ich möchte Sie auf einen wichtigen Punkt hinweisen.
I would like to point out an important point to you.
In the expression 'jemandem den Weg weisen' (to show someone the way), the person being helped is always in the dative. The object that is shown ('der Weg' — the way) is in the accusative.
Ein freundlicher Passant wies uns den Weg zum Museum.
A friendly passerby showed us the way to the museum.
The phrase 'jemanden aus einem Ort weisen' (to expel someone from a place) expresses an authoritative order to leave. The place is used with the preposition 'aus' plus the dative.
Der Wirt wies den betrunkenen Gast aus der Bar.
The landlord expelled the drunk guest from the bar.
The expression 'etwas von sich weisen' (to reject something) is used to firmly deny accusations or responsibility. The part 'von sich' is a fixed component of the expression.
Die Politikerin wies die Kritik entschieden von sich.
The politician firmly rejected the criticism.
'Jemanden in die Schranken weisen' (to put someone in their place) is an idiom and means to show someone their limits. 'In die Schranken' is a fixed part of this expression and cannot be changed.
Als er unhöflich wurde, hat sie ihn sofort in die Schranken gewiesen.
When he became rude, she immediately put him in his place.
to show
'zeigen' and 'weisen' can both have to do with a direction or a clue. 'zeigen' is the normal everyday word: you can point to a door, a map, or a route. 'weisen' is much more specific and often sounds formal or elevated. A common phrase is 'jemandem den Weg weisen' (to show someone the way). The words can be confused because both can mean that someone recognizes where they should go. In practice: in normal conversation, 'zeigen' is almost always more natural. 'weisen' fits mainly in fixed expressions or in formal language.
Der Mitarbeiter weist den Besuchern den Weg zum Konferenzraum.
The employee shows the visitors the way to the conference room.
Im Krankenhaus hat mir eine Pflegerin den Weg zur Anmeldung gezeigt.
At the hospital, a nurse showed me the way to registration.