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下不为例 (xià bù wéi lì) — (fixed expression) not to be taken as a precedent; this time only; should not be repeated

Definition

Set expression used to warn or promise that this one time is allowed, but it must not happen again. Always appears after stating the exception has been granted.

idiom
(fixed expression) not to be taken as a precedentthis time onlyshould not be repeated

Examples

  • ，下不为例。
    Zhè cì wǒ yuán liàng nǐ, dàn shì xià bù wéi lì.
    I forgive you this time, but this is the last time.
  • ，下不为例，。
    Lǎo bǎn shuō, xià bù wéi lì, xià cì zài zhè yàng jiù yào kòu gōng zī.
    The boss said that this is the only exception; if it happens again, your pay will be deducted.
  • 下不为例，。
    Tā bǎo zhèng zhè shì xià bù wéi lì, yǐ hòu yí dìng zhǔn shí.
    He promised this is the last time; in the future he will definitely be on time.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

Open 下 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →

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
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
列
列liè例lì
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.

Open 例 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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