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恪守 (kè shǒu) — to scrupulously abide by (a treaty, promise, rule, etc.)

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to scrupulously abide by' (a treaty, promise, rule, law). Far stronger and more literary than 遵守 — used in official or solemn contexts like diplomacy and law.

verb
to scrupulously abide by (a treaty, promise, rule, etc.)

Examples

  • 恪守。
    Shuāng fāng bì xū kè shǒu tiáo yuē zhōng de měi yì tiáo kuǎn.
    Both sides must scrupulously abide by every clause in the treaty.
  • 恪守，。
    Tā yì shēng kè shǒu zì jǐ de nuò yán, cóng wèi shí yán.
    He scrupulously kept his promises all his life and never broke his word.
  • ，恪守。
    Zuò wéi fǎ guān, tā yán gé kè shǒu fǎ lǜ hé zhí yè dào dé.
    As a judge, he strictly abides by the law and professional ethics.

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.

恪kèscrupulous
守shǒuabide

恪 adds scrupulous or strict, and 守 means to keep or abide, so 恪守 describes carefully following a rule.

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
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè恪
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

恪 pairs 忄, a form of 心 meaning heart, with 各, which gives it its sound.

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

  • 宀宀miánroof; building
  • 寸寸cùnhand

守 pairs 宀, a roof or building, with 寸, a hand, to show a hand guarding a place.

Open 守 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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