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法治 (fǎ zhì) — (noun) rule of law — the principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law; (verb) to rule by law, to govern according to law

Definition

法治 (fǎzhì) is the abstract principle or practice of 'rule of law' — a political ideal, not a specific law. Contrast with 法律 ('law' as concrete rules and statutes) and 法制 (the legal system and institutions that put 法治 into practice).

noun
rule of law — the principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law
verb
to rule by lawto govern according to law
Easily confused

Examples

  • 法治。
    fǎ zhì Shì shè huì wěn dìng de jī chǔ.
    The rule of law is the foundation of social stability.
  • 法治。
    Yǐ fǎ fǎ zhì cái néng bǎo hù rén mín.
    Only by ruling by law can the people be protected.
  • 法治。
    Zhè ge guó jiā zhèng zài jiā qiáng fǎ zhì.
    This country is strengthening the rule of law.

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.

法fǎlaw
治zhìgovern

法 is law and 治 is governing, giving the idea of governing by law.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid
Sound part声符shēngfú
盍
盍hé法fǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

Open 法 →

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
台
台tái治zhì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

治 has 水 (water) and 台; 台 gives the sound, and the character named a river.

Open 治 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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