Japanese symbol for “decree”
命令
めいれい
Romaji: meirei
order; command; decree; directive
In Japanese, decree is 命令, read めいれい (meirei).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n, vs, vt order; command; decree; directive
- n, vs, vt (software) instruction; statement (comp)
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “decree”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 判決 | はんけつ hanketsu | judicial decision; judgement; judgment |
| 命 | めい mei | order; command; decree |
| 詔書 | しょうしょ shousho | imperial edict; decree |
| 上意 | じょうい joui | will (esp. of shogun); decree; emperor's wishes |
| 詔勅 | しょうちょく shouchoku | imperial edict; decree |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 生命 | せいめい seimei | life; existence |
| 革命 | かくめい kakumei | revolution |
| 運命 | うんめい unmei | fate; destiny; lot |
| 一生懸命 | いっしょうけんめい isshoukenmei | very hard; with utmost effort; as hard as one can |
| 寿命 | じゅみょう jumyou | lifespan; life; lifetime |
| 法令 | ほうれい hourei | statute; law; act |
| 司令 | しれい shirei | command; commander; commandant |
| 指令 | しれい shirei | order; directive; instructions |
See also: Chinese symbol for “decree”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.