则 meaning and stroke order
(literary) (conjunction used to express contrast with a previous clause) but; then; (bound form) standard; norm; (bound form) principle
How to write 则, stroke by stroke
6 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 则
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (literary) (conjunction used to express contrast with a previous clause) but; then
- (bound form) standard; norm
- (bound form) principle
- (literary) to imitate; to follow
- classifier for written items
How 则 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Laws inscribed 刂 on a slate 贝.
Radical: 刂 (knife), shared by 71 characters on this site.
How to remember 则
The left part 贝 stands for a slate or tablet, and the right part 刂 is a knife. Picture laws being carved into a slate with a knife, and you get 则 (zé), a rule or standard.
In modern Chinese 则 mostly appears inside words like 规则 (guīzé, rule), 原则 (yuánzé, principle) and 否则 (fǒuzé, otherwise). In formal writing it can also mean "but" or "then" to contrast two clauses. Example: 快走，否则会迟到。(Kuài zǒu, fǒuzé huì chídào.) Hurry up, otherwise you will be late.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 则 (zé) with 侧 (cè, side) and 测 (cè, to measure), which contain 则 plus an extra radical and are read cè, not zé. Also avoid using 则 alone for "rule" in speech. Say 规则 (guīzé) instead.
Common words with 则
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 否则 | fǒuzé | otherwise; if not; or (else) | HSK 4 |
| 规则 | guīzé | rule; regulation; regular; orderly; fixed | HSK 4 |
| 原则 | yuánzé | principle; doctrine | HSK 4 |
| 准则 | zhǔnzé | norm; standard | HSK 7-9 |
| 以身作则 | yǐshēn-zuòzé | to set an example (idiom); to serve as a model | HSK 7-9 |
| 法则 | fǎzé | law; rule | |
| 守则 | shǒuzé | rules; regulations | |
| 一则 | yīzé | on the one hand | |
| 原则上 | yuánzéshang | in principle; generally |
则 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 则
Learning 则 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 则
How many strokes are in 则?
则 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 则 mean?
则 (zé) means (literary) (conjunction used to express contrast with a previous clause) but; then; (bound form) standard; norm; (bound form) principle. A common word with it is 否则 (fǒuzé), meaning "otherwise; if not; or (else)".
How do you pronounce 则?
则 is pronounced zé, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 则?
The radical of 则 is 刂, which carries the idea of "knife". Dictionaries list 则 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 则?
The traditional form of 则 is 則. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 则 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 则 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 则 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 则 used as a measure word?
则 counts short written items such as news reports, ads or stories. For example, 一则新闻 (yī zé xīnwén) means one news item, and 一则广告 (yī zé guǎnggào) means one advertisement.
What is the difference between 则 and 就 when they mean "then"?
Both can link a condition to a result, but 就 (jiù) is everyday spoken Chinese, while 则 sounds literary and formal. 则 also often marks contrast, as in 我喜欢猫，他则喜欢狗 (I like cats, while he likes dogs).