Japanese word

指示

Pronunciation

Romajishiji

Meaning

  • nouninstruction

Example

先生の指示に従います。sen sei no shi ji ni shitaga i ma su

I follow the teacher's instructions.

Illustration for 指示 (instruction)

More examples

作業を始める前に、担当者の指示を確認します。sa gyō o haji me ru mae ni tan tō sha no shi ji o kaku nin shi ma su

Before starting the work, I check the supervisor's instructions.

Core concept

Describes a communicated course of action that another person is expected to follow, ranging from guidance to a firm order.

Common phrases

  • 指示を出すshi ji o da su

    give instructions

  • 指示に従うshi ji ni shitaga u

    follow instructions

Similar words

指図sashizu: A direction that tells someone how to act, sometimes with a controlling tone.
命令meirei: A demand from a person in authority that must be obeyed.
指導shidō: Help or direction that develops someone's skills or behavior.

Definition in Japanese

人にある行動をするように伝えること。また、その内容。hito ni a ru kō dō o su ru yō ni tsuta e ru ko to ma ta so no nai yō

Word origin

指示 (shiji, "instruction") is a Sino-Japanese compound of 指 (shi, "point") and 示 (ji, "show"), giving the sense of pointing out what someone should do.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 指示 (shiji) sounds more official than a casual request and often appears at school or work when someone tells others what to do.

Other meanings

  • ordernoun

Related words

  • 指示するshijisuruinstructverb

Word lists with this word