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March 24, 2026
規guī(gui1)
The character 規 (guī) refers to rules, regulations, or customs that govern behavior in various contexts. It is often used in legal or formal settings to denote standards that must be followed. Understanding this character is essential for navigating social norms and formal communication in Chinese society.
Strokes11Radical見Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, adhering to rules and customs is highly valued, reflecting Confucian principles of order and harmony in society. The concept of 規 is intrinsic to maintaining social stability and respect for authority.
Memory Tip
Picture a wise old man with a compass (the radical '規' suggests direction) who strictly adheres to a set of rules in his life. This image can help you remember that 規 (guī) relates to rules or guidelines that provide direction.
Meanings of 規
guī(gui1)
1rules, regulations, customs, law
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 規
規Simplified
11Strokes
見Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 規
Podcast: 規
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AI Study Notes for 規
Quick Contrast
規 (guī) vs 制 (zhì) — use 規 (guī) when referring to rules or standards, while 制 (zhì) emphasizes control or regulation.
Memory Mnemonic
Picture a wise old man with a compass (the radical '規' suggests direction) who strictly adheres to a set of rules in his life. This image can help you remember that 規 (guī) relates to rules or guidelines that provide direction.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 規 with similar-sounding characters like 归 (guī), which means 'to return.' 規 is more formal and is often found in legal or official documents. Common collocations include 規則 (guīzé, 'rules') and 規範 (guīfàn, 'norms').
HSK Study Tips
Although 規 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is related to other words about rules and norms at HSK Level 4 and above. Students should focus on recognizing it in written texts and understanding its context in formal speech.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, adhering to rules and customs is highly valued, reflecting Confucian principles of order and harmony in society. The concept of 規 is intrinsic to maintaining social stability and respect for authority.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 規 (guī) with 归 (guī), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我想要归則' (Wǒ xiǎng yào guīzé) instead of '我想要規則' (Wǒ xiǎng yào guīzé), which means 'I want the rules.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 規
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Cultural Notes for 規
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, adhering to rules and customs is highly valued, reflecting Confucian principles of order and harmony in society. The concept of 規 is intrinsic to maintaining social stability and respect for authority.
Word Family of 規
Words Containing This Character20
规定guīdìngprovision規定
规则guīzérule規則
规矩guījurule規矩
规划guīhuàplanning規劃
规模guīmóscale規模
规范guīfànnorm規範
规律guīrhythm規律
法规fǎguīlegislation法規
常规chángguīcode of conduct常規
大规模dàguīmólarge scale大規模
犯规fànguīa foul犯規
违规wéiguīirregular違規
规guīcompass規
正规zhèngguīregular正規
规格guīgéstandard規格
规章guīzhāngrule規章
规范化to standardize規範化
不规则irregular不規則
循规蹈矩to act according to convention循規蹈矩
规避to evade規避
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 规定 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 規
Common phrases include 規則 (guīzé, 'rules') and 規範 (guīfàn, 'norms').
You can say, '我們需要遵守規則' (Wǒmen xūyào zūnshǒu guīzé), meaning 'We need to follow the rules.'
It is more commonly found in formal contexts, such as laws or regulations, rather than casual conversation.
