明文规定 (míng wén guī dìng) — (noun) an explicit regulation or stipulation; (verb phrase) to explicitly stipulate or provide (in a formal document)

Definition

A formal, written term for a rule that is 'clearly and explicitly stated' in a document or law — the written wording itself is the point. It emphasizes that the requirement is on record, not just implied.

noun
an explicit regulation or stipulation(verb phrase) to explicitly stipulate or provide (in a formal document)

Examples

  • 明文规定，。
    Àn zhào gōng sī de míng wén guī dìng, yuán gōng bù néng chí dào.
    According to the company's explicit regulation, employees cannot be late.
  • 明文规定。
    Fǎ lǜ míng wén guī dìng jìn zhǐ zài gōng gòng chǎng suǒ xī yān.
    The law explicitly stipulates that smoking is prohibited in public places.
  • 明文规定。
    Zhè xiàng míng wén guī dìng yǐ jīng shí shī le shí nián.
    This explicit regulation has been in effect for ten years.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

明 combines 日 (sun) and 月 (moon), showing the sun just rising while the moon has not yet set, or two bright objects in the sky, to express brightness.

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An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The current form 文 shows a man with head, arms, legs, and chest; the tattoo marks on the chest are no longer drawn.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 規; 规 is its simplified writing.

  • 夫夫fūhusband
  • 見見jiànsee

The simplified 规 is a shorthand; the traditional form 規 shows a cross-shaped compass in its early drawing, and its later form uses 夫 and 見.

Open 规 →

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
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
正
正zhèng定dìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

定 is built from 宀 and 正, with 正 supplying the sound.

Open 定 →

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