Meaning of 原则
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- principle
- doctrine
Measure word: 個|个
How to use 原则
原则 is a common noun in both everyday and formal Chinese. It often appears in phrases like 有原则 (yǒu yuánzé, to have principles) and 原则上 (yuánzé shang, in principle). Example: 原则上我同意。(Yuánzé shang wǒ tóngyì.) In principle, I agree.
原 (yuán) means original or basic, as in 原来 (yuánlái), and 则 (zé) means rule, as in 规则 (guīzé). A principle is a basic rule that everything else starts from.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes mix up 原则 (principle) with 规则 (guīzé, rule). 规则 is a concrete rule you follow, like the rules of a game. 原则 is a deeper guiding idea or value. Also keep the tones straight: yuán is second tone and zé is second tone too.
原则 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
原 yuán · former · 10 strokes
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则 zé · but · 6 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 原则.
| 原因 | yuányīn | cause; origin |
| 原来 | yuánlái | original; former; originally; formerly; at first |
| 否则 | fǒuzé | otherwise; if not; or (else) |
| 规则 | guīzé | rule; regulation; regular; orderly; fixed |
| 原料 | yuánliào | raw material |
| 原始 | yuánshǐ | first; original |
| 草原 | cǎoyuán | grassland; prairie |
| 原理 | yuánlǐ | principle; theory |
| 原先 | yuánxiān | originally; original |
| 平原 | píngyuán | field; plain |
| 高原 | gāoyuán | plateau |
| 原有 | yuányǒu | original; former |
Questions about 原则
What does 原则 mean?
原则 (yuánzé) means "principle; doctrine" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 原则?
原则 is made of 2 characters: 原 (10 strokes), 则 (6 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.
Is 原则 an HSK word?
Yes. 原则 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 原则 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 原则 is written 原則.
What does 原则上 mean and how is it used?
原则上 (yuánzé shang) means "in principle" or "generally speaking." It often signals that there may be exceptions, as in 原则上不可以 (in principle, it is not allowed).
Can 原则 describe a person?
Yes. You can say 他很有原则 (tā hěn yǒu yuánzé), "he is a man of principle." The opposite is 没有原则 (méiyǒu yuánzé), meaning someone has no firm values.