则 zé rule
rule; norm; principle; measure word for written items
How to remember 则: 贝 sea shell + 刂 knife = rule. At the beach camp the kids may cut any sea shell open with a blunt knife, but only under one strict rule.
Component breakdown
则 = 贝 sea shell + 刂 knife
- 贝 sea shell
- 刂 knife
At the beach camp the kids may cut any sea shell open with a blunt knife, but only under one strict rule.
How it came to be
A bronze cauldron, with a knife beside it. Laws were cut into its side so nobody could change them. The bronze forms still show its legs, but it wore down into the sea shell block.
How it is used
- Rule / norm, and a formal 'then' - 规则 (guīzé) rules, 原则 (yuánzé) principle, 否则 (fǒuzé) otherwise.
- As a measure word for short written items: 一则新闻 (yì zé xīnwén) a news item, 一则广告 an ad.
- 以身作则 (yǐshēn-zuòzé) to set an example by one's own conduct.
Characters built with 则
Words with 则
Example sentences
- 考试前要复习，否则很难通过。 Kǎoshì qián yào fùxí, fǒuzé hěn nán tōng'guò.You must review before exams, otherwise it's hard to pass.