The Meaning of kijun [基準] In Japanese

基準
きじゅん
Romaji: kijun N3

What does 基準 mean?

Translation and Meaning

standard, criterion, benchmark, norm

Definition

基準 means the standard or criterion by which something is judged, used as a reference point to evaluate quality, eligibility, or conformity. It denotes a fixed level, rule, or condition that determines whether something meets requirements or expectations.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • the established reference point used to assess quality, compliance, or eligibility
  • the benchmark or reference in guidelines and quality control
  • a fixed value or date used as a reference in calculations or scheduling (e.g., 基準日, 基準値)

Etymology

Phonetic history ki + jun combine to form kijun; they are the on’yomi readings of the kanji 基 and 準 used together in a Sino-Japanese compound.

Composition

  • 基 base, foundation
  • 準 standard, norm; to conform or arrange according to a rule
  • Together they form a meaning of a foundation used to measure or regulate, i.e., the standard against which things are judged

Usage

Used as a noun in formal writing, business, law, and education to denote standards, criteria, or reference points. In everyday speech it appears in phrases like 基準を設ける, 基準を満たす, and in compound terms such as 基準日 or 基準値, indicating dates or values used as references. The term typically requires a following particle when paired with verbs such as 設ける or 満たす to indicate the action of setting or meeting the standard.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: think of a solid base (基) supporting a straight line of rules (準); anything measured against that base is judged by kijun.

Variations

  • 標準 (hyoujun) — standard
  • 基準値 (kijun-chi) — reference value
  • 規範 (kihan) — norm
  • 目安 (meyasu) — guideline

Example Phrases

  • 新しい基準を全員で共有してから始める。
    Atarashii kijun o zen’in de kyōyū shite kara hajimeru.
    We’ll start after sharing the new standard with everyone.
    Lista:
    • 新しい (atarashii) – new
    • 基準を (kijun o) – standard
    • 全員で (zen’in de) – with everyone
    • 共有してから (kyōyū shite kara) – after sharing
    • 始める (hajimeru) – start
    In this sentence, 「基準」 means ‘standard/criterion’ and forms the compound 「新しい基準」 = ‘new standard.’ The structure 「～を全員で共有してから～する」 expresses doing something after sharing it with everyone.
基準