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指令 (zhǐ lìng) — (verb) to order, to command, to instruct; (noun) order, command, instruction

Definition

指令 is a formal, written register word for an order or instruction, especially in technical, military, or management contexts. 命令 is more forceful (a direct command), while 指示 is softer (a directive or guidance).

verb
to orderto commandto instruct
noun
ordercommandinstruction
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 指令。
    Qǐng àn zhào zuì xīn zhǐ lìng cāo zuò.
    Please operate according to the latest instructions.
  • 指令。
    Jīng lǐ zhǐ lìng wǒ men lì jí kāi shǐ.
    The manager ordered us to start immediately.
  • 指令。
    Wǒ shōu dào le shàng jí de zhǐ lìng.
    I received orders from my superiors.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

指zhǐinstructing
令lìngorder

指 (instructing) and 令 (order) combine to mean a command.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
旨
旨zhǐ指zhǐ
Same sound today

The left part 扌 is the hand form 手. The right part 旨 gives the sound.

Open 指 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 亼亼jí
  • 卩卩jié

In 令, the upper 亼 is an open mouth and the lower 卩 is a kneeling person, together showing someone giving orders.

Open 令 →
Appears in
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