Japanese word

指令

Pronunciation

Romajishirei

Meaning

  • noundirective

Example

会社から新しい指令が出ました。kai sha ka ra atara shi i shi rei ga de ma shi ta

The company issued a new directive.

Illustration for 指令 (directive)

More examples

新しい指令によって作業の手順が変わりました。atara shi i shi rei ni yo tte sa gyō no te jun ga ka wa ri ma shi ta

The new directive changed the work procedures.

Core concept

A directive gives an authoritative course of action that guides people or an organization toward a set task.

Common phrases

  • 指令を出すshi rei o da su

    issue a directive

  • 指令を撤回するshi rei o tek kai su ru

    withdraw a directive

  • 指令に従うshi rei ni shitaga u

    follow a directive

Similar words

命令meirei: A command from an authority that requires a particular action.
指示shiji: Specific guidance about an action, procedure, or task.
通達tsūtatsu: An official communication of an order or policy within an organization.
指図sashizu: A direction given to another person, sometimes with a forceful tone.

Definition in Japanese

特定の行動を取るよう、権限のある者や機関が示す指示。toku tei no kō dō o to ru yō ken gen no a ru mono ya ki kan ga shime su shi ji

Word origin

指令 (shirei) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 指 (shi, "point") and 令 (rei, "order"), linking the idea of pointing out an action with an official order.

Usage tips

  • The English word directive and 指令 (shirei) both suggest formal guidance, but 指令 commonly appears in settings where an organization issues an order to its members.

Other meanings

  • commandnoun
  • instructionsnoun

Related words

  • 指令するshireisurudirectverb

Word lists with this word