方針|ほうしんhoushin[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounpolicy; course; plan (of action); principle
   方針ほうしんは２つの意見いけんの間あいだをあれこれとぐらついた。↗

   The policy fluctuated between two opinions.
2. nounmagnetic needleorig. meaning

• Synonym政策せいさくNeutralPolicy set by governments, parties or companies (「経済政策」); leans macro-level, while 「方針」 also covers the direction of an individual's actions.
• Synonym方策ほうさくWrittenWritten/formal prose for means or schemes for handling a matter; the emphasis is on the means rather than the guiding direction.
• SynonymポリシーNeutralLoanword for a policy or a personal creed (「マイポリシー」); heard often in spoken business settings.
• Synonym政綱せいこうWrittenWritten/formal prose for a political platform; used mainly by political parties and governments, and quite rare.
• Related施策しさくWrittenWritten/formal prose for policies and measures put into effect (「施策を講じる」); found mainly in administrative documents.
• Related方向ほうこうNeutralDirection or orientation; it can also carry the sense of 「方針」, as in 「方向性」, and is more abstract than 「方針」.
• Relatedやり方やりかたCasualColloquial word for a way of doing something (「やり方が悪い」); centers on the concrete method rather than the guiding principle.
• Related路線ろせんNeutralThe line or course an organization follows (「路線変更」); also refers to bus and train routes, which 「方針」 does not.

Use 「方針」 for the direction and principles of an organization's or a person's actions (「教育方針」). For government policy say 「政策」, for administrative measures 「施策」, for a personal creed 「ポリシー」, for concrete methods 「やり方」, and for an organization's line 「路線」.

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

1. 方位ほうい磁針じしんの針はり。
2. 物事ものごとを進すすめるとき、目指めざす方向ほうこう。