犯规 fànguī to break the rules
to break the rules; an illegality; a foul
How to remember 犯规: 犯 criminal + 规 rules = to break the rules.
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How it is used
- To break the rules / commit a foul, esp. in sports and games - 他犯规被罚下场 (tā fànguī bèi fá xiàchǎng) he was sent off for a foul.
- Verb-object (violate + rule); separable: 犯了一次规 (committed one foul).
- Narrower than 违法 (wéifǎ, break the law) - 犯规 is about rules of a game/system, not statutes.