shǒufǎ: 守法 - Law-abiding, To Obey the Law

• Keywords: shoufa, shǒufǎ, 守法, law-abiding in Chinese, obey the law Chinese, Chinese legal term, 守法 meaning, 遵守法律, to be a good citizen in China, Chinese word for legal, law-abiding citizen
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 守法 (shǒufǎ), a crucial Chinese term for being “law-abiding” or “obeying the law.” This page breaks down the characters 守 (shǒu) and 法 (fǎ), explores its cultural importance tied to social harmony, and provides practical examples. Understand how being a 守法公民 (shǒufǎ gōngmín), or “law-abiding citizen,” is a deeply ingrained social value in modern China, and learn the key difference between 守法 (shǒufǎ) and 合法 (héfǎ).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shǒufǎ
• Part of Speech: Verb; Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To abide by the law; to be law-abiding.
• In a Nutshell: 守法 (shǒufǎ) is more than just not getting caught breaking rules. It describes the positive civic virtue of actively respecting and upholding the law. It’s a quality attributed to a good citizen, a trustworthy business, or a responsible person. Think of it as a mark of good character that contributes to a stable and harmonious society.

• 守 (shǒu): To guard, to defend, to keep, or to observe. Pictorially, you can imagine it as a guard (寸 - representing a hand or weapon) posted at a building or under a roof (宀). It implies a sense of duty and protection.
• 法 (fǎ): Law, method, or standard. The character contains the “water” radical (氵) and the character for “to go” (去). One way to remember this is that law, like water, should be level and fair for everyone, and it provides the proper “way to go” for society.

When combined, 守法 (shǒufǎ) literally means “to guard the law.” This powerful image captures the essence of the word: it's not a passive avoidance of punishment, but an active commitment to upholding legal and social order.

In Chinese culture, the concept of 守法 (shǒufǎ) is deeply connected to the ideal of social harmony (和谐 - héxié) and collective well-being. Its roots can be traced back to Legalism (法家 - Fǎjiā), an ancient philosophy arguing that a strong, stable society is built on clear, strict laws that apply to everyone. While modern China isn't purely Legalist, this emphasis on law as the foundation of order remains influential. In the West, discussions about law often highlight individual rights and freedoms, sometimes framing them in opposition to state authority. While rights are also important in China, being 守法 (shǒufǎ) is often presented as a citizen's fundamental duty that aligns with the collective good. It is seen as a prerequisite for social stability and national prosperity. Therefore, being called a 守法公民 (shǒufǎ gōngmín), or “law-abiding citizen,” is a significant compliment, implying that you are a responsible and respectable contributor to society. It's less about a “social contract” between equals and more about fulfilling one's role within a well-ordered, harmonious system.

守法 (shǒufǎ) is a relatively formal term. You wouldn't typically use it in casual conversation about minor infractions like jaywalking.

• Formal and Official Contexts: This word is very common in news reports, government announcements, legal documents, and official speeches. The phrase 守法公民 (shǒufǎ gōngmín) is a cornerstone of civic education.
• Business and Corporate Life: Companies are often reminded of the importance of 守法经营 (shǒufǎ jīngyíng), meaning “to operate a business in accordance with the law.” It's a key principle in corporate social responsibility and compliance.
• Education: From a young age, children are taught that being 守法 is a core virtue. It's often paired with other values like being patriotic (爱国 - àiguó) and civilized (文明 - wénmíng).
• Connotation: The connotation is almost exclusively positive. It suggests reliability, integrity, and good character. Its opposite, 不守法 (bù shǒufǎ) or the more common 违法 (wéifǎ), carries a strong negative judgment.

• Example 1:
  • 作为一个好公民，我们都应该守法。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yīgè hǎo gōngmín, wǒmen dōu yīnggāi shǒufǎ.
  • English: As good citizens, we should all be law-abiding.
  • Analysis: This sentence frames 守法 as a civic duty. It's a common sentiment found in public service announcements and educational materials.
• Example 2:
  • 他是一个诚实守法的商人。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì yīgè chéngshí shǒufǎ de shāngrén.
  • English: He is an honest and law-abiding businessman.
  • Analysis: Here, 守法 is used as an adjective to describe the character of the businessman, pairing it with “honest” (诚实) to emphasize his integrity.
• Example 3:
  • 所有企业都必须守法经营。
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu qǐyè dōu bìxū shǒufǎ jīngyíng.
  • English: All enterprises must operate in accordance with the law.
  • Analysis: This shows a very common and important collocation in the business world: 守法经营 (shǒufǎ jīngyíng).
• Example 4:
  • 守法是每个社会成员的基本义务。
  • Pinyin: Shǒufǎ shì měi gè shèhuì chéngyuán de jīběn yìwù.
  • English: Obeying the law is the basic obligation of every member of society.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 守法 as the subject, treating it as a core principle or concept.
• Example 5:
  • 我们要自觉守法，维护社会秩序。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yào zìjué shǒufǎ, wéihù shèhuì zhìxù.
  • English: We must consciously abide by the law and maintain social order.
  • Analysis: The adverb 自觉 (zìjué), meaning “consciously” or “on one's own initiative,” highlights that being law-abiding should be an internal motivation, not just a fear of punishment.
• Example 6:
  • 他的行为很不守法，邻居们都很不喜欢他。
  • Pinyin: Tā de xíngwéi hěn bù shǒufǎ, línjūmen dōu hěn bù xǐhuān tā.
  • English: His behavior is not at all law-abiding, and the neighbors all dislike him.
  • Analysis: This shows the negative form, 不守法 (bù shǒufǎ), used to criticize someone's actions and link them to social disapproval.
• Example 7:
  • 在任何国家，守法都是对自己的最好保护。
  • Pinyin: Zài rènhé guójiā, shǒufǎ dōu shì duì zìjǐ de zuì hǎo bǎohù.
  • English: In any country, obeying the law is the best protection for oneself.
  • Analysis: This sentence presents a pragmatic reason for being 守法—self-interest and safety.
• Example 8:
  • 学校教育学生要做一个爱国、守法的好青年。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxiào jiàoyù xuéshēng yào zuò yīgè àiguó, shǒufǎ de hǎo qīngnián.
  • English: The school educates students to be good youths who are patriotic and law-abiding.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how 守法 is taught as part of a package of desirable civic virtues.
• Example 9:
  • 只有人人都守法，社会才能和谐稳定。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyǒu rénrén dōu shǒufǎ, shèhuì cáinéng héxié wěndìng.
  • English: Only if everyone abides by the law can society be harmonious and stable.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the “只有…才…” (zhǐyǒu…cái…) structure to emphasize that being law-abiding is the necessary condition for social harmony (和谐) and stability (稳定).
• Example 10:
  • 这家公司因不守法经营而被罚款。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī yīn bù shǒufǎ jīngyíng ér bèi fákuǎn.
  • English: This company was fined for not operating in accordance with the law.
  • Analysis: This provides a concrete consequence for failing to be 守法, using the “因为…而…” (yīnwèi…ér…) structure to show cause and effect.

A major point of confusion for learners is the difference between 守法 (shǒufǎ) and 合法 (héfǎ). They may seem similar, but they are not interchangeable.

• 守法 (shǒufǎ) describes the character or action of a person/entity.
  • It's a verb (“to obey the law”) or an adjective (“law-abiding”).
  • It answers the question: “Is this person/company following the law?”
  • Correct: 他是一个守法的人。 (Tā shì yīgè shǒufǎ de rén.) - He is a law-abiding person.
  • Incorrect: 这个合同很守法。 (This is wrong.)
• 合法 (héfǎ) describes the status of a thing, action, or situation.
  • It's an adjective meaning “legal” or “legitimate.”
  • It answers the question: “Is this thing/action permitted by law?”
  • Correct: 这是一个合法的合同。 (Zhè shì yīgè héfǎ de hétóng.) - This is a legal contract.
  • Incorrect: 他是一个合法的人。 (This is wrong. It would oddly mean “he is a legal person,” not that he is “law-abiding.”)

In short: People and companies are 守法. Contracts, actions, and items are 合法.

• 违法 (wéifǎ) - Illegal; to violate the law. The direct antonym of 守法.
• 合法 (héfǎ) - Legal; legitimate. A crucial distinction; describes the legality of an object or action, not a person's character.
• 法律 (fǎlǜ) - Law; legal code. This is the “法” that one “守” (guards/obeys).
• 公民 (gōngmín) - Citizen. Frequently appears in the phrase 守法公民 (law-abiding citizen).
• 遵守 (zūnshǒu) - To comply with; to abide by. A close synonym often used in the more formal phrase 遵守法律 (zūnshǒu fǎlǜ).
• 法治 (fǎzhì) - Rule of law. The broader political and social system that 守法 is a part of.
• 犯罪 (fànzuì) - To commit a crime. A much more serious violation than simply being 不守法. All 犯罪 is 违法, but not all 违法 is 犯罪.
• 规则 (guīzé) - Rule; regulation. While 守法 refers to state laws, one 遵守规则 (zūnshǒu guīzé) in a game, school, or organization.
• 和谐 (héxié) - Harmony. The ultimate social goal that being 守法 is believed to help achieve.
• 义务 (yìwù) - Duty; obligation. Being 守法 is considered a fundamental 义务 of a citizen.