规矩 guīju literally compass and set square
literally compass and set square; figuratively established standard; rule; customs; practices; figuratively upright and honest; well-behaved
How to remember 规矩: 规 rules + 矩 carpenter's square = literally compass and set square.
Characters
How it is used
- Rules / the done thing / proper conduct - 守规矩 (shǒu guīju) to follow the rules, behave.
- Covers both explicit rules and unwritten customs/etiquette; as an adjective, 很规矩 (hěn guīju) means well-behaved and proper.
- Literally compass-and-square (规+矩), the tools that make things straight - hence 'the standards you keep to'. Note 矩 is toned neutral here (guiju).
Example sentences
- 规矩点。 Guījǔ diǎn.Behave yourself.
- 你坏了规矩。 Nǐ huài le guījǔ.You broke the rule.
- 我有时候打破规矩。 Wǒ yǒushíhòu dǎpò guījǔ.I sometimes break the rules.