照準(しょうじゅん)

しょうじゅん
noun
aim; sighting; gunsight; crosshairs
1. aim; sighting; gunsight; crosshairs
The act of aiming at a target, or the sighting device used to aim. Also used figuratively to mean targeting or focusing on something.
照準(しょうじゅん)を合(あ)わせる。
To take aim.
次(つぎ)のターゲットに照準(しょうじゅん)を定(さだ)めた。
I set my sights on the next target.
政府(せいふ)は若者(わかもの)の雇用(こよう)問題(もんだい)に照準(しょうじゅん)を合(あ)わせた政策(せいさく)を打(う)ち出(だ)した。
The government rolled out policies aimed at youth employment issues.

Originally a military/shooting term for aiming or sighting, now also used figuratively to mean targeting or focusing on a goal, issue, or objective.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 照準(しょうじゅん)を合(あ)わせる: to take aim, to target
  • 照準(しょうじゅん)を定(さだ)める: to fix one's aim on
  • 照準(しょうじゅん)器(き): sighting device, gunsight
  • 照準(しょうじゅん)を絞(しぼ)る: to narrow one's aim

USAGE:
In figurative use, 照準(しょうじゅん)を合(あ)わせる is very common in news and business writing to describe focusing efforts or policies on a particular issue. The literal military usage refers to aiming firearms or weapons.

ETYMOLOGY:
照(しょう) (illuminate, shine on) + 準(じゅん) (standard, level) — the idea of aligning one's sight with the target.

general
Added 2026.4.1 2:14
21000/21088_shoujun