判例 (pàn lì) — legal precedent | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A past court decision used as a reference for ruling on later, similar cases. It is the legal basis behind the common-law system and is distinct from individual 判决 (a single ruling in one case).

noun

legal precedent

Examples

判例。
Zhè ge àn jiàn yǐn yòng le yí gè zhòng yào de pàn lì.
This case cited an important legal precedent.
判例。
Fǎ guān gēn jù yǐ qián de pàn lì zuò chū le pàn jué.
The judge made a ruling based on previous precedents.
判例。
Zhè ge pàn lì yǐng xiǎng le hòu lái de pàn jué.
This precedent influenced later rulings.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

It combines 判 meaning judged or judgment with 例 meaning case, referring to a legal precedent.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

刀刀dāoknife

Sound part声符shēngfú

半

半bàn判pàn

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

判 combines 刀, a knife, with 半, which provides the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

亻列例

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rén

Sound part声符shēngfú

列

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

例 is built from 亻, which relates to people, and 列, which gives the sound.

Appears in

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