准绳 (zhǔn shéng) — (literal) marking line (for carpenters); (figurative) criterion, yardstick, standard
Definition
Literally the carpenter's marking line, used figuratively for a 'criterion' or 'yardstick' by which something is judged. Almost always appears in abstract, written contexts (e.g. 法律是社会的准绳), not everyday speech.
noun
(literal) marking line (for carpenters)(figurative) criterionyardstickstandard
Examples
- 准绳。Fǎ lǜ shì shè huì de zhǔn shéng.Law is the yardstick of society.
- 准绳。Mù jiàng yòng zhǔn shéng huà zhí xiàn.The carpenter uses a marking line to draw straight lines.
- 准绳。Wǒ men bù néng yòng tóng yí gè zhǔn shéng lái héng liáng suǒ yǒu rén.We cannot use the same yardstick to measure everyone.
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