违例 (wéi lì) — (v.o.) to violate the rules (in sports); (v.o., formal) to breach a regulation or precedent

Definition

违例 means to break a rule or regulation. Most common in sports for a foul or violation called by a referee; also used more broadly for breaching a regulation or precedent in formal contexts.

verb
(v.o.) to violate the rules (in sports)(v.o., formal) to breach a regulation or precedent

Examples

  • 违例。
    Tā yīn wèi wéi lì bèi fá xià le chǎng.
    He was sent off for violating the rules.
  • 违例。
    Zhè chǎng bǐ sài cái pàn chuī le sān cì wéi lì.
    The referee called three violations in this game.
  • ，。
    Tā bǐ sài shí wéi le yí cì lì, bèi jǐng gào le.
    He committed one violation during the match and was warned.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

违wéiviolate
例lìrules

违例 combines 违 violate with 例 rules to mean breach the rules.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 違; 违 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
韋
韋wéi違wéi
Same sound today

The traditional form 違 pairs 辶, which shows walking, with 韋 to give the sound. The simplified 违 is a later shorthand.

Open 违 →

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 →

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