Keywords: 命令, mìnglìng, Chinese command, Chinese order, issue a command in Chinese, military order Chinese, computer command, directive in Chinese, verb for order, noun for order, HSK 5.
Summary: Learn the powerful Chinese word 命令 (mìnglìng), which translates to a formal “command,” “order,” or “directive.” This comprehensive guide explores its use in military, legal, and even computing contexts, distinguishing it from a simple request like ordering food. Discover how to use 命令 (mìnglìng) correctly in sentences, understand its cultural weight rooted in hierarchy, and avoid common mistakes that can make you sound arrogant or unnatural.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): mìnglìng
Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: A formal instruction or directive given by a person or entity in a position of authority.
In a Nutshell:命令 (mìnglìng) is a strong, serious, and formal word for “command.” Think of a general giving orders to soldiers, a judge issuing a court order, or a computer executing a command. It implies a clear power difference and an expectation of absolute compliance. This is not the word you'd use to order a pizza; it's for situations where authority is being asserted and obedience is non-negotiable.
Character Breakdown
命 (mìng): This character's core meaning is “life” (生命, shēngmìng) or “fate” (命运, mìngyùn). However, it also carries the strong meaning of “to command” or “a decree.” Think of an order as something that is decreed, as if by fate, from a higher power.
令 (lìng): This character also means “to order,” “to command,” or “to cause something to happen.” Its ancient form depicted a person kneeling to receive an order from a superior.
When combined, 命令 (mìnglìng) becomes a reinforced term. The two characters, both meaning “order,” create a formal and unambiguous word that emphasizes the seriousness and authority behind the instruction. It leaves no room for interpretation or negotiation.
Cultural Context and Significance
命令 (mìnglìng) is deeply connected to China's historical and social structures, which have traditionally valued hierarchy and respect for authority. It evokes images of imperial decrees (圣旨, shèngzhǐ) handed down by the emperor, where obedience was absolute. This top-down structure, influenced by Confucian ideals of social order, gives 命令 a weight that the English word “order” might not always carry.
Comparison to “Order” in English: While “order” is a direct translation, its usage in English is much broader and often more casual. You can “order” a coffee, your boss can “order” pizzas for the office, or a friend can “order” you to have fun. Using 命令 (mìnglìng) in these casual contexts in Chinese would sound bizarre, overly dramatic, and even arrogant. 命令 aligns more closely with the English “direct order,” “mandate,” or “commandment”—terms reserved for formal, serious situations with a clear power dynamic. It reflects a cultural understanding that certain instructions are not requests but are binding directives from an established authority.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Military, Police, and Government: This is the most common and literal context. Superiors issue 命令 to subordinates.
`下达命令 (xiàdá mìnglìng)` - To issue a command.
`执行命令 (zhíxíng mìnglìng)` - To carry out/execute a command.
Legal System: A judge issues a court order, which is a form of 命令.
`法院命令 (fǎyuàn mìnglìng)` - Court order.
Computing: A crucial modern usage. A command typed into a terminal or a directive within a program is a 命令.
`命令行 (mìnglìng háng)` - Command line.
`输入命令 (shūrù mìnglìng)` - To input a command.
Figurative or Exaggerated Use: In casual conversation, a parent might jokingly say they are giving a 命令 to a child to clean their room. This is understood as a hyperbolic use to feign strictness.
Formality and Connotation:命令 is almost always formal and carries a serious, neutral tone. The context dictates whether it's perceived as righteous (a general's order to save lives) or tyrannical (a dictator's oppressive decree). It is never used for casual requests among equals.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
将军下达了进攻的命令。
Pinyin: Jiāngjūn xiàdá le jìngōng de mìnglìng.
English: The general issued the command to attack.
Analysis: This is the classic, textbook example of 命令 used in a military context. `下达 (xiàdá)` is a formal verb for “issuing” an order downwards through a hierarchy.
English: This is a command, not a request. You must obey.
Analysis: This sentence explicitly contrasts 命令 with `请求 (qǐngqiú)`, a request, highlighting its non-negotiable nature.
Example 3:
妈妈开玩笑地命令我立刻去睡觉。
Pinyin: Māmā kāiwánxiào de mìnglìng wǒ lìkè qù shuìjiào.
English: Mom jokingly ordered me to go to sleep immediately.
Analysis: The phrase `开玩笑地 (kāiwánxiào de)` - “jokingly” - is crucial here. It shows that 命令 can be used informally, but only when it's clearly understood to be an exaggeration.
Example 4:
我命令你马上离开这里！
Pinyin: Wǒ mìnglìng nǐ mǎshàng líkāi zhèlǐ!
English: I order you to get out of here right now!
Analysis: Using 命令 as a direct verb like this is extremely forceful and confrontational. It's something you would hear in a movie or a very heated argument where someone is forcefully asserting authority.
English: Please input “run” in the command line interface.
Analysis: This shows the important and very common modern usage of 命令 in computing. Here, it is completely neutral and technical.
Example 6:
士兵们拒绝执行这个不人道的命令。
Pinyin: Shìbīngmen jùjué zhíxíng zhège bù réndào de mìnglìng.
English: The soldiers refused to carry out this inhumane order.
Analysis: This demonstrates how to talk about the content and reception of a 命令. `执行 (zhíxíng)` means “to execute” or “carry out.”
Example 7:
法官发布了保护受害者的命令。
Pinyin: Fǎguān fābù le bǎohù shòuhàizhě de mìnglìng.
English: The judge issued an order to protect the victim.
Analysis: A clear example of 命令 in a formal, legal context. `发布 (fābù)` means “to issue” or “to release.”
Example 8:
在我们的公司，老板的命令就是法律。
Pinyin: Zài wǒmen de gōngsī, lǎobǎn de mìnglìng jiùshì fǎlǜ.
English: In our company, the boss's order is the law.
Analysis: A figurative sentence describing a very strict, authoritarian work environment. It shows the cultural understanding of the power implied by a 命令.
English: In a state of emergency, the government has the authority to issue a curfew order.
Analysis: This sentence highlights the link between 命令, authority (`有权, yǒu quán`), and government action.
Example 10:
他等待着下一步的命令。
Pinyin: Tā děngdài zhe xià yī bù de mìnglìng.
English: He was waiting for the next command.
Analysis: A simple sentence showing the perspective of someone who receives orders. It's neutral and descriptive.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
The “Ordering Food” Mistake: This is the most common pitfall for beginners. You do not use 命令 (mìnglìng) to order food or drinks in a restaurant. This implies you are the server's commanding officer, which is incorrect and rude.
Rule: Use `点 (diǎn)` or `点菜 (diǎn cài)` to order from a menu.
Confusing it with a Simple Request: Do not use 命令 (mìnglìng) for everyday requests to friends, colleagues, or strangers. It will make you sound demanding and authoritarian. Use softer, more appropriate words.
Correct:麻烦你帮我复印一下这个文件，好吗？ (Máfán nǐ bāng wǒ fùyìn yīxià zhège wénjiàn, hǎo ma?) - Could I trouble you to copy this document for me, please?
“False Friend” Alert: English “Order”: Remember that the English word “order” has a much wider, more casual range of use. 命令 (mìnglìng) is restricted to situations involving hierarchy, authority, and non-negotiable instructions. When in doubt, ask yourself: “Am I a general, a judge, a president, or a computer?” If not, you probably need a different word.
Related Terms and Concepts
`点菜 (diǎn cài)` - To order food. The correct term for “ordering” in a restaurant, completely different from 命令.
`要求 (yāoqiú)` - To request; a demand; a requirement. It is a strong request, but less formal and authoritarian than 命令. It's based on a need, not on authority.
`指示 (zhǐshì)` - Instruction; directive. Softer than 命令, this is often used in corporate or administrative settings for a boss's instructions.
`吩咐 (fēnfù)` - To tell; to instruct (someone to do something). Typically used by a superior to a subordinate or an elder to a junior for a specific task. It's more personal and less formal than 命令.
`规定 (guīdìng)` - Regulation; rule; to stipulate. An impersonal rule that applies to everyone in a certain group (e.g., company policy, school rules).
`服从 (fúcóng)` - To obey; to submit to. This is the verb for what one does in response to a 命令.
`指挥 (zhǐhuī)` - To command; to direct (e.g., an army, an orchestra). This verb focuses on the act of leading and directing a group in coordinated action.
`指令 (zhǐlìng)` - Directive; order. Very similar to 命令 but often sounds more technical or procedural. It's frequently used in computing and automated systems.