Meaning of 规律
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- rule (e.g. of science)
- law of behavior
- regular pattern
- rhythm
- discipline
How to use 规律
规律 often describes natural or scientific patterns, or a regular daily routine. It is common with verbs like 找到 (zhǎodào, find) and 遵守 (zūnshǒu, follow), and as 有规律 (yǒu guīlǜ, regular). Example: 他的生活很有规律。(Tā de shēnghuó hěn yǒu guīlǜ.) His life is very regular.
规 (guī) appears in 规则 (guīzé, rule) and 规定 (guīdìng, regulations), and 律 (lǜ) appears in 法律 (fǎlǜ, law). Put a rule and a law together and you get 规律, the steady pattern that things follow.
Common mistake: Learners often write the pinyin of 律 as lü with the wrong tone or confuse it with 绿 (lǜ, green). Both are fourth tone, but 律 has the 彳 side, not the silk radical 纟. Another trap is using 规律 for a written rule; for that, use 规则 (guīzé) or 规定 (guīdìng).
规律 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.
规 guī · rules · 8 strokes
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律 lǜ · statute · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 规律.
| 规定 | guīdìng | to stipulate; to specify; to prescribe; to fix (a price); to set (a quota); regulations; r |
| 规范 | guīfàn | norm; standard |
| 律师 | lǜshī | lawyer |
| 法律 | fǎlǜ | law |
| 规则 | guīzé | rule; regulation; regular; orderly; fixed |
| 大规模 | dà guīmó | large scale; extensive |
| 规模 | guīmó | scale; scope; extent |
| 纪律 | jìlǜ | discipline |
| 一律 | yīlǜ | same; identical; uniformly; all; without exception |
| 规划 | guīhuà | to draw up a plan; to map out a program; a plan; a program |
| 正规 | zhèngguī | regular; according to standards |
| 法规 | fǎguī | legislation; statute |
Questions about 规律
What does 规律 mean?
规律 (guīlǜ) means "rule (e.g. of science); law of behavior" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 规律?
规律 is made of 2 characters: 规 (8 strokes), 律 (9 strokes). That is 17 strokes in total.
Is 规律 an HSK word?
Yes. 规律 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 规律 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 规律 is written 規律.
What is the difference between 规律 and 规则?
规律 is a pattern that exists naturally or that you discover, like the laws of nature. 规则 is a rule people make and must follow, like game rules or traffic rules.
Can 规律 be used as an adjective?
It can describe something regular, as in 规律的生活 (guīlǜ de shēnghuó, a regular life). More often, speakers say 有规律 (yǒu guīlǜ) or 很有规律 to mean regular or orderly.