Learn a Chinese Character - 则 (zé) - Rule, Regulation

1. Character Basics (基本信息)

Radical: 刂 (knife radical)

Stroke Count: 6

Character Decomposition: 贝 + 刂 (shell + knife radical)

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation (发音)

Pinyin: zé (second tone)

3. Meaning (含义)

则 can mean rule, regulation, principle, or criterion. It can also be used as a conjunction to indicate a consequence or a conditional relationship. (“则”可以表示规则、规定、原则或准则。它也可以用作连词，表示结果或条件关系。)

4. Common Words (常用词汇)

• 规则 (guī zé) - rule
• 原则 (yuán zé) - principle
• 法则 (fǎ zé) - law, rule

5. Grammar & Usage (语法与用法)

则 can be used as a noun or a conjunction. As a noun, it refers to rules or principles. As a conjunction, it often connects two clauses to show a logical relationship. (“则”可以用作名词或连词。作名词时，它指规则或原则；作连词时，它常连接两个从句以表示逻辑关系。)

6. Cultural Background (文化背景)

In Chinese culture, rules and principles play an important role in maintaining social order. The character 则 reflects the Chinese people's emphasis on order and logic. (在中国文化中，规则和原则在维护社会秩序方面起着重要作用。“则”这个字体现了中国人对秩序和逻辑的重视。)

7. Example Sentence (例句)

8. Memory Tips (记忆技巧)

You can think of 则 as a combination of 贝 (shell, which was used as currency in ancient times, representing value) and 刂 (knife radical, representing a cutting or dividing action). Rules and principles are like the "cutting lines" that define and regulate values. (你可以把“则”想象成由“贝”（贝壳，在古代用作货币，代表价值）和“刂”（刀旁，代表切割或划分的动作）组成。规则和原则就像是定义和规范价值的“切割线”。)