清规戒律 (qīng guī jiè lǜ) — rigid and excessive rules or restrictions (often used critically)

Definition

A set phrase (chengyu) for 'rigid, excessive rules or restrictions' — almost always used critically, to mock red tape that kills creativity. Its Buddhist origin ('pure precepts and disciplinary rules') is not how learners will meet it.

idiom
rigid and excessive rules or restrictions (often used critically)

Examples

  • 清规戒律。
    Zhè xiē qīng guī jiè lǜ zǎo jiù gāi fèi chú le.
    These rigid rules should have been abolished long ago.
  • 清规戒律，。
    Gōng sī lǐ qīng guī jiè lǜ tài duō, yuán gōng méi yǒu chuàng xīn kōng jiān.
    There are too many restrictive rules in the company; employees have no room for innovation.
  • 清规戒律，。
    Tā shòu bù liǎo nà xiē qīng guī jiè lǜ, jué dìng cí zhí.
    He couldn't stand those rigid rules and decided to quit.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

清规pure rules
清qīngpure规guīrule
偏正Modifier + head
戒律precepts
戒jièprecept律lǜrule
联合Side by side

清规 and 戒律 both name rules and precepts, together meaning strict religious regulations.

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
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng清qīng
Same sound today

清 has 氵 (water) on the left and 青 on the right to show its sound.

Open 清 →

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 →

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

  • 戈戈gēhalberd
  • 廾廾gǒnghands

戒 shows 廾 (hands) and 戈 (a halberd) together: hands holding up a weapon as a warning.

Open 戒 →

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
彳彳chì
Sound part声符shēngfú
聿
聿yù律lǜ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

律 puts 彳 beside 聿: 彳 is the part tied to the meaning, and 聿 is the part tied to the sound.

Open 律 →

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