Japanese symbol for “directive”
命令
めいれい
Romaji: meirei
order; command; decree; directive
In Japanese, directive 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 “directive”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 通達 | つうたつ tsuutatsu | notification; official notice; directive (e.g. from higher to lower levels of the administration) |
| 指令 | しれい shirei | order; directive; instructions |
| 訓令 | くんれい kunrei | directive; instructions |
| ディレクティブ | ディレクティブ direkutibu | directive |
| 命令書 | めいれいしょ meireisho | decree; directive |
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 “directive”.
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.