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原则 (yuán zé) — principle

Definition

原则 (yuánzé) is a general guiding principle or rule for behavior or decisions. Compared with 原理 ('theory' about how something works) and 主义 ('doctrine, ‑ism' as an ideology), 原则 is more about practical standards for action.

noun
principle
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 原则。
    Liǎo jiě zhè ge yuán zé hěn zhòng yào.
    Understanding this principle is very important.
  • 原则。
    Zuò rén yào yǒu yuán zé.
    One must have principles in life.
  • 原则。
    Zhè ge yuán zé bù néng gǎi biàn.
    This principle cannot be changed.

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.

原yuánoriginal or basic
则zérule

原 means original or basic and 则 means rule; together they denote a basic rule or principle.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

原 combines 泉 (spring) and 厂 (cliff), picturing a spring bursting from a cliff-side, which gives the sense of origin or source.

Open 原 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 則; 则 is its simplified writing.

  • 鼎鼎dǐngding, a bronze cauldron for cooking or sacrificial rituals
  • 刂刀dāoknife

The traditional form 則 pairs 鼎, a bronze cauldron, with 刂, a knife, possibly showing carving on a bronze vessel; the simplified 则 is a later shorthand.

Open 则 →
Appears in
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