Readings: レイ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi)
Meaning: orders, commands, excellent, good, government ordinance, law, regulations, precept, make
The character 令 (lìng) depicts a person (人) kneeling and listening to a command from above (represented by the top stroke). It originally meant ‘command’ or ‘order’.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 令 starts with the two top strokes (a short horizontal followed by a vertical hooked stroke), then the downward left stroke, followed by the horizontal line, and finally the hook at the bottom right.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 人 (ひとがしら) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | 6 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- レイ (rei)
Common Words Using 令
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 命令 | めいれい | order, command |
| 法令 | ほうれい | laws and ordinances |
| 号令 | ごうれい | command, order, signal |
| 司令 | しれい | command, control (e.g., military) |
| 辞令 | じれい | letter of appointment/dismissal, official notice |
| 令状 | れいじょう | warrant (e.g., arrest warrant) |
| 令嬢 | れいじょう | young lady (polite) |
| 令息 | れいそく | your son (polite) |
| 訓令 | くんれい | instruction, directive |
| 発令 | はつれい | issuance (of orders, laws) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼の命令に従うしかなかった。
Kana: かれのめいれいにしたがうしかなかった。
Romaji: Kare no meirei ni shitagau shika nakatta.
English: I had no choice but to follow his orders.
Japanese: 新しい法令が来月から施行されます。
Kana: あたらしいほうれいがらいげつからしこうされます。
Romaji: Atarashii hourei ga raigetsu kara shikou saremasu.
English: A new law will be enforced from next month.
Japanese: 司令官は部隊に前進するよう命じた。
Kana: しれいかんはぶたいにぜんしんするようめいじた。
Romaji: Shireikan wa butai ni zenshin suru you meijita.
English: The commander ordered the troops to advance.
Japanese: 警察は逮捕令状を発行した。
Kana: けいさつはたいほれいじょうをはっこうした。
Romaji: Keisatsu wa taiho reijou o hakkou shita.
English: The police issued an arrest warrant.
Japanese: 社長は彼に人事異動の辞令を渡した。
Kana: しゃちょうはかれにじんじいどうのじれいをわたした。
Romaji: Shachou wa kare ni jinji idou no jirei o watashita.
English: The president handed him a letter of personnel transfer.
Japanese: 運動会の開始の号令がかかった。
Kana: うんどうかいのかいしのごうれいがかかった。
Romaji: Undoukai no kaishi no gourei ga kakatta.
English: The command to start the sports day was given.
Japanese: このホテルは令嬢にも人気の場所です。
Kana: このホテルはれいじょうにもにんきのばしょです。
Romaji: Kono hoteru wa reijou ni mo ninki no basho desu.
English: This hotel is popular even among young ladies.
Japanese: ご令息はどちらにお勤めですか？
Kana: ごれいそくはどちらにおつとめですか？
Romaji: Go reisoku wa dochira ni otsutome desu ka?
English: Where does your son work? (polite)
Japanese: 政府は緊急の訓令を発した。
Kana: せいふはきんきゅうのくんれいをはっした。
Romaji: Seifu wa kinkyū no kunrei o hasshita.
English: The government issued an urgent directive.
Japanese: 新しい規則が正式に発令された。
Kana: あたらしいきそくがせいしきにはつれいされた。
Romaji: Atarashii kisoku ga seishiki ni hatsurei sareta.
English: The new rules were officially issued.
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