Japanese word

司令

Pronunciation

Romajishirei

Meaning

  • nouncommander

Example

司令は基地にいます。shi rei wa ki chi ni i ma su

The commander is at the base.

Illustration for 司令 (commander)

More examples

司令は全員に安全な場所へ移るよう指示しました。shi rei wa zen in ni an zen na ba sho e utsu ru yō shi ji shi ma shi ta

The commander instructed everyone to move to a safe place.

Core concept

It centers on the authority to direct a unit and the person who exercises that authority.

Common phrases

  • 司令の判断shi rei no han dan

    the commander's decision

  • 司令の指示shi rei no shi ji

    the commander's instructions

Similar words

指揮官shikikan: A person who leads an organized unit by directing its actions and decisions.
隊長taichō: A leader responsible for a defined group or unit and the people in it.
司令官shireikan: A person formally responsible for directing a military organization or large unit.

Definition in Japanese

軍隊などで、部隊を指揮する立場にある者。gun tai na do de bu tai o shi ki su ru tachi ba ni a ru mono

Word origin

As a Sino-Japanese compound, 司令 (shirei) combines 司 (shi, "to administer") and 令 (rei, "an order").

Usage tips

  • English commander can be a military rank, while Japanese 司令 (shirei) usually names the person in command of a unit rather than one fixed rank.

Related words

  • 司令官shireikancommanding officernoun

Word lists with this word