Lesson L8N2N2 Kanji in Context⏱ 25 min

Law and Regulation Kanji

This lesson introduces kanji commonly appearing in legal and regulatory contexts in Japanese, such as laws, rules, judgements, crime, and enforcement. You will study each kanji's on'yomi, kun'yomi, and common vocabulary, reinforced with example sentences that simulate real-world usage. Focus on understanding nuances between similar kanji and their compounds.

🎯 Goal: Learn N2 kanji related to law and regulation in context.

Lesson Content

Learning Goal

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to recognize and understand 6 key N2 kanji related to law and regulation, read them in common words, and use them in basic legal or administrative contexts.

Concept

Law and regulation kanji appear frequently in news, official documents, and business settings. These characters often combine to form words about rules, judgments, and legal systems. Understanding them will help you read contracts, news articles, and government forms more confidently.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. 法 (ほう / hō) – Law, method

Meaning: Law, rule, or a way of doing something
Common compounds:
- 法律 (ほうりつ / hōritsu) – law (the system)
- 方法 (ほうほう / hōhō) – method, way
- 文法 (ぶんぽう / bunpō) – grammar (language rules)

2. 律 (りつ / ritsu) – Regulation, rhythm

Meaning: A rule or standard; also used for rhythm in music
Common compounds:
- 法律 (ほうりつ / hōritsu) – law
- 規律 (きりつ / kiritsu) – discipline, order
- 自律 (じりつ / jiritsu) – self-discipline, autonomy

3. 規 (き / ki) – Standard, measure

Meaning: A rule, standard, or regulation
Common compounds:
- 規則 (きそく / kisoku) – rule, regulation
- 規定 (きてい / kitei) – provision, stipulation
- 規制 (きせい / kisei) – regulation, control

4. 制 (せい / sei) – System, control

Meaning: A system, to control, or to limit
Common compounds:
- 制度 (せいど / seido) – system, institution
- 制限 (せいげん / seigen) – restriction, limit
- 規制 (きせい / kisei) – regulation, control

5. 判 (はん / han) – Judgment, stamp

Meaning: To judge, decide, or a stamp/seal
Common compounds:
- 判決 (はんけつ / hanketsu) – court judgment, verdict
- 判断 (はんだん / handan) – judgment, decision
- 判子 (はんこ / hanko) – personal seal, stamp

6. 裁 (さい / sai) – Judge, decide

Meaning: To judge, decide, or cut cloth (original meaning)
Common compounds:
- 裁判 (さいばん / saiban) – trial, court
- 裁判官 (さいばんかん / saibankan) – judge
- 裁決 (さいけつ / saiketsu) – ruling, decision

Mini Examples

Japanese	Romaji	English
法律を守る	hōritsu o mamoru	to obey the law
規則に従う	kisoku ni shitagau	to follow the rules
裁判で勝つ	saiban de katsu	to win in court
判断を下す	handan o kudasu	to make a judgment
規制が厳しい	kisei ga kibishii	The regulations are strict

Common Mistake

❌ Confusing 法 (hō) and 律 (ritsu)
Both appear in 法律 (hōritsu), but alone they have different uses:

法 = law as a concept or method
律 = rule, rhythm, or discipline

❌ Mixing 判 (han) and 裁 (sai)
Both relate to judgment, but:

判 = the act of judging or a stamp
裁 = the process of deciding in court

Tip: Remember 裁判 (saiban) = trial (the whole process), and 判決 (hanketsu) = the final verdict.

Quick Practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct kanji from this lesson:

新しい __律が作られた。
(A new law was created.)
会社の __則を守ってください。
(Please follow the company rules.)
彼は __判で有罪になった。
(He was found guilty in the judgment.)
この制度は __限がある。
(This system has restrictions.)

Answers:

法 (hō) – 法律
規 (ki) – 規則
裁 (sai) – 裁判
制 (sei) – 制限

Summary and Next Step

You have learned 6 essential N2 kanji for law and regulation:

法 (hō) – law, method
律 (ritsu) – regulation, rhythm
規 (ki) – standard, rule
制 (sei) – system, control
判 (han) – judgment, stamp
裁 (sai) – judge, decide

These kanji form the backbone of legal vocabulary in Japanese. Practice reading them in news headlines or official documents.

Next step: Study how these kanji combine with other characters to form more advanced legal terms like 憲法 (kenpō, constitution) and 条例 (jōrei, ordinance).