指令|しれいshirei[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verborder; directive; instructions; command
    The victorious country dictated the terms of peace to the defeated country.
Conjugation
Dictionary form指令する(しれいする)
Polite (masu)指令します(しれいします)
Negative (nai)指令しない(しれいしない)
polite (masen)指令しません(しれいしません)
classical zu / nu指令せず・指令せぬ(しれいせず・しれいせぬ)
Past (ta)指令した(しれいした)
polite (mashita)指令しました(しれいしました)
Past negative (nakatta)指令しなかった(しれいしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)指令しませんでした(しれいしませんでした)
Te form指令して(しれいして)
Potential指令できる(しれいできる)
Passive指令される(しれいされる)
Causative指令させる(しれいさせる)
Causative passive指令させられる(しれいさせられる)
Conditional (ba)指令すれば(しれいすれば)
tara指令したら(しれいしたら)
Volitional指令しよう(しれいしよう)
polite (mashou)指令しましょう(しれいしましょう)
Imperative指令しろ(しれいしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym命令めいれいNeutralA superior's forceful demand that someone do something — the most coercive of this group. 「指令」 stresses a directive issued down an organizational chain.
  • Synonym指示しじNeutralPointing out how to do something or telling someone to do it, as in 「指示に従う」; 「指令」 stresses issuance from a higher organ.
  • Synonym指図さしずNeutralBossy instructions in a superior-to-subordinate tone; common in speech, as in 「人の指図は受けない」.
  • Synonym令れいWrittenCommands and laws; mostly a compound element, as in 「命令」 and 「法令」. On its own it has a written, formal air.
  • Synonym司令しれいNeutralCommanding and supervising troops, a fire brigade or similar, or the person in charge; 「指令」 is the content of the order issued.
  • Synonym号令ごうれいNeutralA spoken command that makes a crowd act in unison, as in 「号令をかける」; 「指令」 is issued between organizations.
  • Synonym訓令くんれいWrittenA directive from a higher administrative organ to a lower one; carries a bureaucratic, official-document flavor.
  • Synonym命じるめいじるWrittenTo order someone to do something or to appoint them, as in 「退去を命じる」; leans toward written prose.
  • Synonym命ずるめいずるWrittenA ずる-conjugation variant of 「命じる」 with the same meaning; found mostly in official documents and written prose.
  • Related言いつけるいいつけるNeutralTo tell or order someone to do something; also to tattle to a superior, as in 「先生に言いつける」.
  • Related布告ふこくWrittenProclaiming something widely to the public, or an official state announcement, as in 「宣戦布告」; 「指令」 runs from superior to subordinate.
  • Related指揮しきNeutralDirecting and leading a group — troops, an orchestra — with stress on overall command rather than the order itself.
  • Related申し付けるもうしつけるFormalHumble language for instructing a subordinate to do something, as in 「何なりとお申し付けください」.
  • Related下命かめいWrittenIssuing an order to one's subordinates; written in flavor and rarely used today.
  • Related仰せ付けるおおせつけるFormalHonorific language for a superior's orders, as in 「仰せ付けられる」; carries a solemn, dignified tone.
  • Related下知げじWrittenIssuing commands; has an old-fashioned air and is rarely used today.
  • Related令するれいするWrittenTo issue an order; written in flavor and rarely used today.
  • Related勅令ちょくれいWrittenAn edict issued directly by an emperor; largely a historical term.

Use 「指令」 for directives passed down from a higher organ, as in 「指令を出す」. For a forceful order from a superior choose 「命令」; for telling someone how to proceed, 「指示」; for a superior's bossy instructions, 「指図」; for a command that makes a crowd act together, 「号令」; for overall command of troops or an orchestra, 「指揮」. 「訓令」 is bureaucratic, 「布告」 addresses the public, 「勅令」 is an imperial edict, and 「命じる」/「命ずる」 are written verbs for ordering or appointing.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 上級じょうきゅうの機関きかんから下級かきゅうの機関きかんに指揮しき・命令めいれいすること。また、その命令めいれい。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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