条例

• Reading: じょうれい
• Romaji: jourei
• Kanji breakdown: 条 (jou) — article, clause, stripe; 例 (rei) — example, precedent, rule
• Pronunciation: /dʑoː.ɾeː/

Meaning

Ordinance; local regulation; bylaw. Rules established by a local government within its jurisdiction.

A noun referring to regulations enacted by local governments (prefectures, cities, towns, villages) as opposed to national laws (法律, houritsu). Local assemblies (地方議会) pass 条例 to address region-specific issues like noise control, waste disposal, and environmental protection. Distinguished from 法律 (national law) and 政令 (seirei, government ordinance) — 条例 is specifically local legislation with limited geographic scope.

Examples

1. この市では路上喫煙を禁止する条例がある。 This city has an ordinance prohibiting smoking on public streets.
2. 新しい条例が来月から施行される。 A new ordinance will go into effect next month.
3. 騒音に関する条例に違反した店が罰金を科された。 A store was fined for violating the noise ordinance.

Usage Guide

Context: local government, law, public policy

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 条 (jou, article/clause) + 例 (rei, precedent/rule). Literally 'articles of rules' — a set of codified regulations organised by articles.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal