指令

• Pinyin: zhǐ lìng
• Hanzi breakdown: 指 = 扌+ 旨 (direct); 令 = 人 + 一 + 卩 (person kneeling to receive orders)

Meaning

An instruction; a command or directive. An authoritative order that must be followed.

Used in military, computing, and administrative contexts. In computing: 程序指令 (program instruction), 指令集 (instruction set). In governance: 行政指令 (administrative directive). Implies authority and compliance expectation.

Examples

1. 系统收到指令后立即执行相应的操作程序。 After receiving the instruction, the system immediately carried out the corresponding operation.
2. 上级下达紧急指令，要求各部门全力配合救援工作。 A superior issued an urgent directive requiring all departments to fully cooperate with the rescue effort.
3. 这款芯片的指令集架构决定了它的运算效率。 This chip’s instruction set architecture determines its computing efficiency.

Usage Guide

Context: military, computing, administration

Tone: authoritative

Do Say

• 程序员需要熟悉各种编程语言的指令语法。(Programmers need to be familiar with the instruction syntax of various programming languages.)
• 指挥官发出指令后，部队立即展开行动。(After the commander issued the order, the troops immediately commenced action.)

Don't Say

• 妈妈给了我一个指令 — too formal for family contexts; use 吩咐 or 要求 for household instructions

Origin & History

指 (direct/point) + 令 (order/command)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal