方ほう針しん

ほ

う

し

ん

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

policy; course of action; guiding principle

Refers to a basic direction, plan, or set of principles for action, used in government, business, and personal decision-making.

政せい府ふは新あたらしい経けい済ざい方ほう針しんを発はっ表ぴょうした。
The government announced a new economic policy.
会かい社しゃの方ほう針しんに従したがって行こう動どうしてください。
Please act in accordance with the company's policy.

noun

magnetic needle

Original meaning; now rare and mostly replaced by 磁針. Still understood in historical or technical contexts.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉方ほう針しんを立たてるto set a policy or course of action
会かい社しゃは来らい年ねん度どの新あたらしい方ほう針しんを立たてた。
The company set a new policy for the coming fiscal year.
〈事こと〉方ほう針しんを決きめるto decide on a policy
政せい府ふは経けい済ざい対たい策さくの方ほう針しんを決きめた。
The government decided on its policy for economic measures.
〈事こと〉方ほう針しんに従したがうto follow a policy
社しゃ員いんは会かい社しゃの方ほう針しんに従したがって行こう動どうした。
The employees acted in accordance with the company's policy.
〈事こと〉方ほう針しんを転てん換かんするto change course or shift policy
政せい府ふは突とつ然ぜん、外がい交こう方ほう針しんを転てん換かんした。
The government suddenly shifted its diplomatic policy.

Expressions

町ちょうの方ほう針しんtown policies; municipal policy
方ほう針しんを固かためるagree on a policy; firmly establish a policy

Kanji

方direction, person, alternative
針needle, pin, staple

Related words· 11

政せい策さくN2sense 1
政策 refers to a concrete political or administrative measure, while 方針 is a broader, more general direction or principle.
磁じ針しん sense 2
磁針 is the modern standard term for a magnetic needle, while 方針 in this sense is an archaic word rarely used today.
方ほう策さくN1sense 1
方策 focuses on a specific method or measure to achieve a goal, while 方針 refers to the overarching guiding principle behind such methods.
戦せん略りゃく sense 1
戦略 implies a detailed, often competitive plan for achieving an objective, whereas 方針 is a simpler statement of general direction.

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路ろ線せんN1
方針 is a concrete plan or principle for action, while 路線 emphasizes a broader, more abstract direction or stance, often in political or organizational contexts.
指し針しん
方針 refers to a concrete policy or course of action decided upon, whereas 指針 is a broader guiding standard that can be either abstract or physical.
ポリシー
方針 is a native Japanese word for an organizational or personal course of action, while ポリシー is the same idea borrowed from English and often sounds more modern or individual.
主しゅ義ぎN3
方針 is a concrete policy or course of action, while 主義 is a broader, often ideological principle or doctrine.
綱こう領りょう
方針 is a general term for a policy or course of action, while 綱領 is a formal, often codified set of principles adopted by a party or organization.
原げん則そくN1
原則 states the underlying rule itself, while 方針 describes the direction or policy chosen based on such rules.
国こく是ぜ
方針 is a general guideline or direction that can apply to any organization, while 国是 specifically refers to a nation's core, long-standing principle.

Word family· 12

経けい営えい方ほう針しんN2
management policy; business policy
大だい方ほう針しん
broad policy; overriding principle
無む方ほう針しん
planlessness; aimlessness; without a definite plan
基き本ほん方ほう針しん
basic policy; fundamental policy; fundamental plan of action
指し導どう方ほう針しん
guidelines; guiding principle; policy direction

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政せい策さく方ほう針しん
policy position; line of policy; party line
方ほう針しん決けっ定てい
policy decision
施し政せい方ほう針しん
administrative policy; government policy direction
社しゃの方ほう針しん
company policy
行こう動どう方ほう針しん
course of action; action policy; plan of action

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Etymology

Composed of 方 (direction) and 針 (needle). Originally referred to a compass needle pointing a direction, then extended metaphorically to a guiding principle or policy.