Kanji N2

令: orders, laws, command

令 is a JLPT N2 kanji meaning orders, laws, command, written with 5 strokes. It is read レイ (on), and has no common kun reading. Children in Japan learn it in grade 4. You will see it in 命令 (めいれい, order) and 指令 (しれい, order).

令

Meanings

  • orders
  • laws
  • command
  • decree
  • good
Strokes5
JLPT levelN2
School gradeGrade 4
Frequency#804 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • レイ

On'yomi: from Chinese, written in katakana. Used in compound words.

Kun reading
  • None in common use

Kun'yomi: native Japanese, in hiragana. The faint part is the okurigana, written in kana after the kanji.

Watch the stroke order

Every stroke in order, the live one in vermilion. Replay as often as you like.

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Now draw it

Trace each stroke in order. Wrong direction or wrong order gets flagged right away.

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Your turn: draw stroke 1 of 5. Start at the dot.

Common words with 令

The most useful words written with it, easiest first. Every other kanji in them opens its own page.

  • 命令めいれい

    order; command; decree; directive

    JLPT N3
  • 指令しれい

    order; directive; instructions; command

    JLPT N1
  • 仮令たとえ

    even if; no matter (what); if; though; although

    JLPT N1
  • 令れい

    command; order; dictation

  • 政令せいれい

    government ordinance; cabinet order

  • 法令ほうれい

    statute; law; act; ordinance; regulation

  • 司令官しれいかん

    commandant; commanding officer; general

  • 発令はつれい

    official announcement; proclamation

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Stroke order from KanjiVG © Ulrich Apel, CC BY-SA 3.0. Readings, meanings and words from KANJIDIC2 and JMdict, names from JMnedict, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0, and Wikidata, CC0. JLPT lists after Jonathan Waller (tanos.co.uk), CC BY.