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规矩 (guī ju) — (noun) rule, custom, standard of behavior; (adjective) well-behaved, proper, following the rules

Definition

Covers both 'rule/custom' (a company's 规矩) and 'well-behaved' (a 规矩 child). 风俗 is broader social customs; 规矩 emphasizes the standard of behavior itself. As 'well-behaved', it's more about obeying rules than 乖 (which adds a sense of cleverness).

noun
rulecustomstandard of behavior
adjective
well-behavedproperfollowing the rules

Examples

  • 规矩。
    Měi gè gōng sī dōu yǒu zì jǐ de guī ju.
    Every company has its own rules.
  • 规矩，。
    Zhè hái zi hěn guī ju, cóng bú luàn pǎo.
    This child is very well-behaved and never runs around wildly.
  • ，规矩。
    Rù xiāng suí sú, yào zūn shǒu dāng dì de guī ju.
    When in Rome, do as the Romans do — you should follow local customs.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

规guīcompass
矩jǔsquare

规 and 矩 are tools for circles and squares, together meaning established rules.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

The shape of 矩 came from a picture of a man holding a carpenter's square.

Open 矩 →
Appears in
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