416.命


1. Meaning and Reading

  • life, fate, order
  • Onyomi : めい, みょう
  • Kunyomi : いのち

2. Kanji Explanation

  • 令 : order
  • 口 : mouth

Giving an order (令) by mouth (口), symbolizing ‘command’. Later, it also came to mean ‘life’.

命 kanji meaning and mnemonic illustration

3. Example Words

いのち
life

Life is precious.

命令 めいれい
order, command

I follow my superior’s order.