则

則

zé

刂 + 贝

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

zé (conjunction) then; therefore

zé (noun) rule; standard; norm; principle

Etymology

Simplified form of 則. Depicts carving inscriptions on bronzeware (鼎) with a knife (刂). Based on the original meaning "law". In ancient China, some legal writings were inscribed on bronzeware.

About

则 is the simplified form of 則. The character originally depicted a knife (刂) carving inscriptions onto a bronze vessel (鼎), representing the engraving of laws and regulations on bronzeware. Over time, the vessel component corrupted into 貝 (shell), giving the traditional form 貝 + 刀, which in simplified form becomes 贝 + 刂. The original meaning is "law" or "rule". From this sense of established standards, it gained grammatical uses as a conjunction meaning "then" or "in that case".

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Spring and Autumn (~600 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

努力学习则成绩好。

nǔ lì xué xí zé chéng jì hǎo。

If you study hard, then your grades will be good.

天气冷则多穿衣服。

tiān qì lěng zé duō chuān yī fu。

If the weather is cold, then wear more clothes.

他同意则我们可以出发。

tā tóng yì zé wǒ men kě yǐ chū fā。

If he agrees, then we can leave.

遵守交通规则则避免事故。

zūn shǒu jiāo tōng guī zé zé bì miǎn shì gù。

Following traffic rules then avoids accidents.

如果你认为正确则请坚持。

rú guǒ nǐ rèn wéi zhèng què zé qǐng jiān chí。

If you think it is correct, then please persist.

经济发达则人民生活水平提高。

jīng jì fā dá zé rén mín shēng huó shuǐ píng tí gāo。

When the economy is developed, then people's living standards improve.

从长远来看投资教育则国家受益。

cóng cháng yuǎn lái kàn tóu zī jiào yù zé guó jiā shòu yì。

In the long run, investing in education then benefits the country.

鉴于目前的情况则我们需要采取紧急措施。

jiàn yú mù qián de qíng kuàng zé wǒ men xū yào cǎi qǔ jǐn jí cuò shī。

Given the current situation, then we need to take emergency measures.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 刂

Component: 贝

Example Words