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| 遵守 [2025/08/10 03:44] – created xiaoer | 遵守 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== zūnshǒu: 遵守 - To Abide By, Comply With, Observe ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** zunshou, 遵守, zūnshǒu, comply in Chinese, abide by in Chinese, follow the rules in Chinese, zunshou guize, zunshou falu, Chinese for observe laws, Chinese verb for follow rules | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and usage of the essential Chinese verb **遵守 (zūnshǒu)**, which means "to abide by," "comply with," or "observe." This guide explores how to use **遵守** when talking about following rules, laws, regulations, and promises in China. Discover its cultural importance, see practical examples, and understand how it differs from similar English and Chinese words. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** zūnshǒu | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Verb | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** To formally follow or adhere to rules, laws, regulations, or agreements. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **遵守 (zūnshǒu)** is the go-to word for expressing compliance with established systems. Think of it as the formal way to say you're "playing by the book." It carries a sense of duty, responsibility, and respect for order. You **遵守** traffic rules, company policy, and legal contracts—not casual advice from a friend. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **遵 (zūn):** To follow, to obey, to act in accordance with. The 辶 radical (on the left, squashed) means "to walk" or "movement," suggesting following a path or a standard. | |
| * **守 (shǒu):** To guard, to keep, to defend. The character is a simplified picture of a hand guarding a building (the 宀 radical at the top means "roof"). It implies protecting and maintaining something. | |
| When combined, **遵守 (zūnshǒu)** literally means "to follow and guard." This powerful combination implies not just passively obeying a rule, but actively upholding and maintaining it, ensuring it isn't broken. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| **遵守 (zūnshǒu)** is a cornerstone of social order in Chinese culture, which traditionally places a high value on harmony, stability, and collectivism. Adhering to established rules—whether they are national laws, company regulations, or even family expectations—is seen as a fundamental civic and personal virtue. It's about fulfilling your role and contributing to the smooth functioning of the group. | |
| A useful comparison is with the English concept of "compliance." While "compliance" in a Western context can sometimes feel like a reluctant necessity or bureaucratic red tape, **遵守 (zūnshǒu)** often carries a more positive and proactive connotation. It is linked to being a responsible citizen, a trustworthy business partner, and a reliable person. It reflects the idea that society functions best when everyone agrees to follow a shared set of guidelines for the greater good, rather than prioritizing individualistic deviation. This is a subtle but important difference from Western cultures that may place a higher value on questioning authority and challenging established norms. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **遵守 (zūnshǒu)** is a formal word used frequently in written and spoken Chinese, especially in official or serious contexts. | |
| * **Legal and Civic Contexts:** This is its most common use. You **遵守** laws (法律), rules (规则), and regulations (规定). It's the language of traffic signs, legal documents, and public service announcements. | |
| * **Business and Professional Settings:** In the workplace, employees are expected to **遵守** company policy (公司制度), safety procedures (安全规程), and contract terms (合同条款). It implies professionalism and reliability. | |
| * **Personal Commitments:** It can also be used for serious personal commitments, like to **遵守** a promise (诺言) or an agreement (协议). This usage elevates the promise to a level of a formal rule. | |
| Its connotation is almost always neutral to positive. Someone who **遵守纪律 (zūnshǒu jìlǜ)**, "abides by discipline," is seen as reliable and respectable. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 我们都应该**遵守**交通规则。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒmen dōu yīnggāi **zūnshǒu** jiāotōng guīzé. | |
| * English: We should all abide by the traffic rules. | |
| * Analysis: A classic, everyday example. **遵守** is the standard verb used for following rules (规则). | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 作为公民，我们必须**遵守**国家法律。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zuòwéi gōngmín, wǒmen bìxū **zūnshǒu** guójiā fǎlǜ. | |
| * English: As citizens, we must observe the country's laws. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence highlights the formal and civic nature of **遵守**. It's used here with 法律 (fǎlǜ - law). | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 他是一个信守诺言的人，总是**遵守**自己的承诺。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā shì yīgè xìnshǒu nuòyán de rén, zǒngshì **zūnshǒu** zìjǐ de chéngnuò. | |
| * English: He is a person who keeps his word, always abiding by his own promises. | |
| * Analysis: This shows **遵守** can apply to personal commitments (承诺 - chéngnuò), lending them a sense of gravity. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 所有员工都必须严格**遵守**公司的安全规定。 | |
| * Pinyin: Suǒyǒu yuángōng dōu bìxū yángé **zūnshǒu** gōngsī de ānquán guīdìng. | |
| * English: All employees must strictly comply with the company's safety regulations. | |
| * Analysis: A typical sentence you would see in a company handbook. Note the adverb 严格 (yángé - strictly) often modifies **遵守**. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 如果你不**遵守**合同，你可能需要支付违约金。 | |
| * Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bù **zūnshǒu** hétóng, nǐ kěnéng xūyào zhīfù wéiyuējīn. | |
| * English: If you don't abide by the contract, you may need to pay a penalty for breach of contract. | |
| * Analysis: This demonstrates the negative consequence of failing to **遵守** a formal agreement (合同 - hétóng). | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 运动员必须**遵守**比赛纪律。 | |
| * Pinyin: Yùndòngyuán bìxū **zūnshǒu** bǐsài jìlǜ. | |
| * English: Athletes must observe the discipline of the competition. | |
| * Analysis: Here, **遵守** is paired with 纪律 (jìlǜ - discipline), common in sports, military, and school contexts. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 进入实验室前，请仔细阅读并**遵守**所有守则。 | |
| * Pinyin: Jìnrù shíyànshì qián, qǐng zǐxì yuèdú bìng **zūnshǒu** suǒyǒu shǒuzé. | |
| * English: Before entering the lab, please carefully read and adhere to all the rules. | |
| * Analysis: 守则 (shǒuzé) means "rules" or "code of conduct," a perfect object for the verb **遵守**. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 他因为没有**遵守**时间而错过了重要的会议。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi méiyǒu **zūnshǒu** shíjiān ér cuòguòle zhòngyào de huìyì. | |
| * English: He missed the important meeting because he didn't adhere to the schedule. | |
| * Analysis: **遵守时间 (zūnshǒu shíjiān)** is a common collocation meaning "to be punctual" or "to stick to the schedule." | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 虽然有些传统习俗很复杂，但老一辈人仍然坚持**遵守**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Suīrán yǒuxiē chuántǒng xísú hěn fùzá, dàn lǎo yī bèi rén réngrán jiānchí **zūnshǒu**. | |
| * English: Although some traditional customs are complex, the older generation still insists on observing them. | |
| * Analysis: This shows **遵守** can be used for customs (习俗 - xísú) and traditions (传统 - chuántǒng). | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 请**遵守**公共秩序，不要大声喧哗。 | |
| * Pinyin: Qǐng **zūnshǒu** gōnggòng zhìxù, bùyào dàshēng xuānhuá. | |
| * English: Please maintain public order and don't be loud. | |
| * Analysis: **遵守公共秩序 (zūnshǒu gōnggòng zhìxù)** is a set phrase you'll hear in public places like libraries, museums, and train stations. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| A common mistake for learners is using **遵守 (zūnshǒu)** in informal situations where a different verb is more appropriate. | |
| * **遵守 (zūnshǒu) vs. 听 (tīng):** | |
| * **遵守** is for rules, laws, and abstract principles. | |
| * **听 (tīng)**, meaning "to listen to," is for people's advice, orders, or suggestions. | |
| * **Incorrect:** `我应该遵守我妈妈的话。` (Wǒ yīnggāi zūnshǒu wǒ māma de huà.) | |
| * **Correct:** `我应该听我妈妈的话。` (Wǒ yīnggāi tīng wǒ māma de huà.) -> I should listen to what my mom says. | |
| * **遵守 (zūnshǒu) vs. 跟 (gēn):** | |
| * **遵守** is for abstract compliance. | |
| * **跟 (gēn)** means to physically "follow" someone or something. | |
| * **Incorrect:** `请遵守导游。` (Qǐng zūnshǒu dǎoyóu.) | |
| * **Correct:** `请跟导游走。` (Qǐng gēn dǎoyóu zǒu.) -> Please follow the tour guide. | |
| Think of it this way: You **遵守** the //rules// the tour guide sets, but you **跟** the //tour guide// herself. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[服从]] (fúcóng) - To obey. More focused on submitting to a person or an authority figure (e.g., a soldier obeys an officer). It implies a clearer power dynamic than **遵守**. | |
| * [[遵循]] (zūnxún) - To follow; to abide by. Very similar to **遵守**, but often used for more abstract things like principles, logic, or a course of action. It's slightly more literary. | |
| * [[违背]] (wéibèi) - To violate; to go against. A common antonym for **遵守**, often used for violating principles, one's conscience, or promises. | |
| * [[违反]] (wéifǎn) - To violate; to infringe. A strong, formal antonym for **遵守**, used specifically for breaking laws, rules, and regulations. | |
| * [[守法]] (shǒufǎ) - To be law-abiding (adjective or verb phrase). Literally "to guard the law." A person who always **遵守法律** is a **守法**公民 (shǒufǎ gōngmín - a law-abiding citizen). | |
| * [[规则]] (guīzé) - Rule; regulation. The most common thing that one **遵守**s. | |
| * [[纪律]] (jìlǜ) - Discipline. The set of rules governing behavior in an organization like a school or the army. | |
| * [[合同]] (hétóng) - Contract. A formal agreement that parties must **遵守**. | |