法令

• Reading: ほうれい
• Romaji: hourei
• Kanji breakdown: 法 (hou) — law, method, rule; 令 (rei) — order, command, decree
• Pronunciation: /hoː.ɾeː/

Meaning

Statute; law; act; ordinance; regulation. A broad term covering laws and governmental decrees.

A noun encompassing both laws (法律, houritsu) and ordinances (命令, meirei). A broader term that covers statutes, regulations, and decrees collectively. Common in administrative and governmental contexts. Often combined as 法令遵守 (hourei junshu, legal compliance).

Examples

1. 新しい法令が来月から施行される。 A new statute takes effect next month.
2. 法令に違反した場合は罰金が科される。 Violating the law will result in a fine.
3. 地方自治体の法令を確認する必要がある。 We need to check the local government's ordinances.

Usage Guide

Context: government, administration, compliance

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 法 (hou, law/method) + 令 (rei, order/command/decree). Literally 'law and decree' — the collective body of official rules and regulations.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal