则 (zé) - rule, regulation, law & then, thereupon

则Tone 2

zé ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 刂

悦丈

则 · zé

rule, regulation, law;

then, thereupon;

criterion, standard;

used to indicate contrast or consequence

rule, regulation, lawthen, thereuponcriterion, standard

Usage highlights

RulesPrinciplesRegulationsOtherwiseImmediatelyStandard

Synonyms

  • 规— regulation, rule
  • 法— law, method
  • 律— law, statute
  • 例— example, precedent

Antonyms

  • 乱— chaos, disorder
  • 违— violate, disobey

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Follow the school rules (校则).
  • If you study hard, then you will succeed (学则成).
  • This is a basic principle (基本原则).
  • He is poor but honest (穷则独善其身).

Collocations

  • Rules(规则)
  • Principles(原则)
  • Regulations(法则)
  • Otherwise(否则)
  • Immediately(则即)
  • Standard(准则)

Idioms

  • Follow the good and correct the wrong(则善而从)
  • Take warning from the past(前车之鉴，后车之则)
  • Imitate the good and correct the bad(则善而从，则不善而改)
  • Precedent serves as a guide(前事不忘，后事之则)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted marking boundaries on bronze vessels, evolving to mean rules and standards.
  • In Confucian thought, represents moral principles and behavioral norms.
  • Used in classical Chinese to indicate logical consequence or contrast between clauses.

FAQ