指針

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 指針(ししん) means a guideline that gives direction to actions or judgments.
• Basic usage: It is used for guidance issued by an organization or a principle someone follows when deciding.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Guideline and command
  • 指針 guides the direction of a judgment; 命令(めいれい) tells someone to perform a particular action.
• Using something as a guide
  • 利用者の安全を判断の指針にしている means using user safety as a guiding principle when making decisions.