guīzé: 规则 - Rule, Regulation, Law

• Keywords: guize, 规则, Chinese rules, Chinese regulations, rules in Chinese, what does guize mean, Chinese law, social norms China, game rules Chinese, Chinese word for rule, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 规则 (guīzé), the fundamental Chinese word for “rule” or “regulation.” This guide explores how guīzé shapes everything in China, from traffic laws and company policies to game instructions and unwritten social norms. Learn its cultural significance, see practical examples, and understand how it differs from related terms like 法律 (fǎlǜ), the formal word for “law.”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): guīzé
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: 4
• Concise Definition: A set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct, procedure, or a system.
• In a Nutshell: 规则 (guīzé) is your all-purpose word for any kind of “rule.” Think of it as the underlying structure or blueprint for how things should work. It's a neutral term that can apply to the official rules of a country (交通规则, traffic rules), the rules of a simple board game (游戏规则, game rules), or even the unwritten rules of social etiquette. It conveys a sense of order, system, and established procedure.

• 规 (guī): This character originally depicted a compass used for drawing circles. By extension, it means “rule,” “regulation,” or “standard.” It carries the idea of a tool that creates conformity and correctness.
• 则 (zé): This character originally referred to a standard or model, evolving to mean “a standard,” “a rule,” or “a principle.” It often appears in formal and philosophical contexts.

When combined, 规则 (guīzé) literally means “compass-standard” or “standardized rules.” The two characters reinforce each other to create a strong sense of an established, orderly system of principles and regulations.

In Chinese culture, 规则 (guīzé) is more than just a set of restrictions; it's a cornerstone of a harmonious and functional society. Influenced by Confucian ideals that value order (秩序, zhìxù) and proper conduct, following 规则 is often seen as a social virtue. It is the individual's responsibility to understand and abide by the rules of the group, whether it's the family, the company, or the nation. Let's compare this to a common Western perspective. In the West, particularly in American culture, there's often a celebration of “breaking the rules” or “thinking outside the box.” Rule-breakers can be seen as innovators or heroes. While innovation is also prized in China, there is generally a stronger cultural emphasis on first mastering and respecting the existing 规则. Adhering to them isn't necessarily seen as conformity, but as a sign of maturity, respect, and a commitment to collective well-being. This applies not just to formal laws, but also to the countless unwritten social 规则 that govern interactions.

规则 (guīzé) is an extremely common and practical word used in many domains:

• Official and Legal Contexts: It refers to formal regulations set by an authority.
  • 交通规则 (jiāotōng guīzé) - Traffic rules
  • 公司规则 (gōngsī guīzé) - Company rules/policy
• Games and Competitions: It's the standard word for the instructions of any game or sport.
  • 游戏规则 (yóuxì guīzé) - Game rules
  • 比赛规则 (bǐsài guīzé) - Competition rules
• Social Norms (Written and Unwritten): This is where it gets interesting.
  • 课堂规则 (kètáng guīzé) - Classroom rules
  • 潜规则 (qián guīzé) - “Hidden/unwritten rules.” This is a hugely important concept, referring to the way things *actually* work through connections and unspoken agreements, often in contrast to the official rules.
• Natural and Scientific Laws: It can describe the laws of nature.
  • 自然规则 (zìrán guīzé) - The rules of nature
  • 物理规则 (wùlǐ guīzé) - The rules of physics

Example 1: 我们先来读一下游戏规则。 Pinyin: Wǒmen xiān lái dú yīxià yóuxì guīzé. English: Let's read the game rules first. Analysis: A very common and straightforward use. 规则 here simply means the instructions for the game. Example 2: 每个司机都必须遵守交通规则。 Pinyin: Měi ge sījī dōu bìxū zūnshǒu jiāotōng guīzé. English: Every driver must obey the traffic rules. Analysis: Here, 规则 refers to formal, official regulations with real-world consequences for breaking them. The verb used is 遵守 (zūnshǒu), which means “to abide by” or “to comply with.” Example 3: 这是我们公司的基本规则，请大家记住。 Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒmen gōngsī de jīběn guīzé, qǐng dàjiā jìzhù. English: These are our company's basic rules, please everyone remember them. Analysis: Used in a professional context for internal policies and regulations. Example 4: 他因为违反规则被取消了比赛资格。 Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi wéifǎn guīzé bèi qǔxiāo le bǐsài zīgé. English: He was disqualified from the competition for breaking the rules. Analysis: Shows the negative consequence of not following 规则. 违反 (wéifǎn) is the formal verb for “to violate” a rule. Example 5: 在职场里，有很多看不见的“潜规则”。 Pinyin: Zài zhíchǎng lǐ, yǒu hěn duō kàn bù jiàn de “qián guīzé”. English: In the workplace, there are many unseen “unwritten rules.” Analysis: This introduces the important concept of 潜规则 (qián guīzé). It highlights that official rules aren't the only ones that matter. Example 6: 凡事都有规则，不能乱来。 Pinyin: Fánshì dōu yǒu guīzé, bù néng luàn lái. English: Everything has its rules; you can't just do things haphazardly. Analysis: A common saying that reflects the cultural value of order and process. 乱来 (luàn lái) means to act recklessly or chaotically. Example 7: 制定新的规则是为了提高效率。 Pinyin: Zhìdìng xīn de guīzé shì wèile tígāo xiàolǜ. English: Establishing new rules is for the purpose of increasing efficiency. Analysis: Shows that rules are not just restrictive, but can be created for a positive purpose. 制定 (zhìdìng) means “to formulate” or “to establish” (rules, laws, policies). Example 8: 这个世界的运行有它自己的规则。 Pinyin: Zhè ge shìjiè de yùnxíng yǒu tā zìjǐ de guīzé. English: The functioning of this world has its own rules. Analysis: A philosophical use of 规则, referring to the underlying principles of how something (like the world) works. Example 9: 孩子的行为需要用规则来引导。 Pinyin: Háizi de xíngwéi xūyào yòng guīzé lái yǐndǎo. English: A child's behavior needs to be guided by rules. Analysis: Used in the context of parenting or education, highlighting the role of rules in shaping behavior. Example 10: 你这样做不合规则啊！ Pinyin: Nǐ zhèyàng zuò bù hé guīzé a! English: What you're doing is against the rules! Analysis: A common, slightly informal way to call someone out. 不合 (bù hé) means “not in accordance with.”

• 规则 (guīzé) vs. 法律 (fǎlǜ) - Rule vs. Law: This is the most important distinction.
  • 法律 (fǎlǜ) is “law” in the legal sense—enacted by the government, legally binding, and carrying formal legal penalties. All laws are rules, but not all rules are laws.
  • 规则 (guīzé) is a much broader term. It includes laws, but also company policies, game instructions, social etiquette, and norms. You can have 游戏规则 (game rules), but not 游戏法律 (game laws).
  • Mistake: Using 法律 (fǎlǜ) to talk about the rules of a board game. Incorrect: 这个游戏的法律是什么？ Correct: 这个游戏的规则是什么？
• 规则 (guīzé) vs. 规定 (guīdìng) - Rule vs. Regulation/Stipulation: These are very close and often interchangeable for beginners.
  • 规则 (guīzé) is the general set of rules or the system of rules.
  • 规定 (guīdìng) often refers to a specific provision, article, or stipulation within that system. It can also be a verb meaning “to stipulate.”
  • Nuance: You might have a document of company 规则 (rules), and inside it, the first article 规定 (stipulates) that all employees must arrive by 9 AM. For general use, 规则 is usually the safer, more common choice.
• “Regular” is a False Friend: While you can say someone's life is “有规则” (yǒu guīzé - orderly, regular), 规则 does not mean “regular” in the sense of “a regular customer” (老顾客, lǎo gùkè) or “regular size.” Stick to the core meaning of “rule” and “regulation.”

• 法律 (fǎlǜ) - Law. The formal, state-enforced system of rules. More serious and official than 规则.
• 规定 (guīdìng) - Regulation, provision; to stipulate. A specific rule within a larger set. Can also be a verb.
• 制度 (zhìdù) - System, institution. The overarching framework or structure that contains rules (e.g., the educational system, a political system).
• 潜规则 (qián guīzé) - Unwritten/hidden rules. The crucial concept of how things *really* work based on connections and unspoken understandings.
• 纪律 (jìlǜ) - Discipline. Rules related to maintaining order and controlling behavior, often in a structured environment like a school, military, or company.
• 原则 (yuánzé) - Principle. A fundamental belief or guiding philosophy. A principle is more abstract than a rule (e.g., “Honesty is the best policy” is a principle; “Don't lie on your expense report” is a rule).
• 章程 (zhāngchéng) - Charter, regulations. A formal set of rules for an organization, association, or club.
• 秩序 (zhìxù) - Order, sequence. The state of social harmony and predictability that is the *result* of people following 规则.