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原则 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
原则yuánzéprincipleHSK 5, n, 16 strokes, rank #3265, Hard
原则yuánzédoctrineHSK 5, n, 16 strokes, rank #3265, Hard
yuánzé(yuan2ze2)yuan ze T2
  1. 1principle
  2. 2doctrine
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March 24, 2026

原则(原則)yuánzé(yuan2ze2)

原则 (yuánzé) refers to a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior. It is commonly used in contexts such as ethics, philosophy, and governance to describe guiding rules or standards that influence decision-making.

Strokes16Frequency#3265DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, principles are often seen as essential for maintaining harmony and balance in society, reflecting Confucian values that emphasize moral integrity and ethical behavior.

Memory tip

Think of 原 (yuán) as the 'source' or 'origin' and 则 (zé) as 'rules' or 'regulations'. Imagine a tree (the source) with branches (the rules) guiding its growth—this visual helps connect the meaning of 'principles' to the characters.

Meanings of 原则

yuánzé(yuan2ze2)
1principle
2doctrine
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 原则

原则Simplified
原則Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3265Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 原则

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Podcast: 原则

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AI study notes for 原则

Quick Contrast

原则 (yuánzé) vs 规范 (guīfàn) — use 原则 for fundamental truths or propositions, while 规范 refers to specific norms or standards.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 原则 with 规则 (guīzé), which means 'rules' and may imply a stricter enforcement. It's generally used in a formal context, so be mindful of your audience when using it. Collocations include '道德原则' (moral principles) and '科学原则' (scientific principles).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 原则 connects to other abstract nouns related to concepts and ideas. Focus on using it in sentences that discuss ethics or decision-making frameworks to solidify understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 原则 interchangeably with 规则 (guīzé). For example, saying '遵循规则' (to follow principles) instead of '遵循原则'. Remember, 原则 is more about underlying beliefs, while 规则 refers to specific rules.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 原则

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Component characters

原yuánformer
HSK 510 strokes厂
View full entry
则zéconjunction used to express contrast with a previous sentence or clause
HSK 66 strokes刂
View full entry

How to say principle in Chinese

“principle” in Chinese is原则yuánzé

原则 (yuánzé) refers to a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior. It is commonly used in contexts such as ethics, philosophy, and governance to describe guiding rules or standards that influence decision-making.

When to use 原则

Be careful not to confuse 原则 with 规则 (guīzé), which means 'rules' and may imply a stricter enforcement. It's generally used in a formal context, so be mindful of your audience when using it. Collocations include '道德原则' (moral principles) and '科学原则' (scientific principles).

原则 or something close to it

原则 (yuánzé) vs 规范 (guīfàn) — use 原则 for fundamental truths or propositions, while 规范 refers to specific norms or standards.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 原则 interchangeably with 规则 (guīzé). For example, saying '遵循规则' (to follow principles) instead of '遵循原则'. Remember, 原则 is more about underlying beliefs, while 规则 refers to specific rules.

Write 原则

原
则

Practice writing 原则 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 原则

原则 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

她这一辈子都恪守这些____。

She has cleaved to these principles all her life.

Example sentences for 原则 (10)

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1
她这一辈子都恪守这些原则。

tā zhè yíbèizi dōu kè shǒu zhèxiē yuánzé。

She has cleaved to these principles all her life.
2
他宁愿一枪打死自己也不愿违背自己的原则。

tā nìngyuàn yī qiāng dǎ sǐ zìjǐ yě bù yuàn wéibèi zìjǐ de yuánzé。

He would rather shoot himself than compromise his principles.
3
打好网球的重要原则是眼要紧盯着球。

dǎ hǎo wǎngqiú de zhòngyào yuánzé shì yǎn yàojǐn dīng zhe qiú。

The golden rule in tennis is to keep your eye on the ball.
4
他有时也会大胆坚持不受欢迎、但却有原则性的立场。

tā yǒushí yě huì dàdǎn jiānchí bù shòu huānyíng、 dàn què yǒu yuánzé xìng de lìchǎng。

He has also dared to take unpopular, but principled stands at times.
5
坚持你的原则,就会胜利。

jiānchí nǐ de yuánzé, jiù huì shènglì。

Stick to your principles, and you will win through.
6
它的确能让你恪守某些公平原则。

tā díquè néng ràng nǐ kè shǒu mǒu xiē gōngpíng yuánzé。

It does hold you to certain standards of fairness.
7
非暴力和忍耐是他们的信仰的核心原则。

fēi bàolì hé rěnnài shì tāmen de xìnyǎng de héxīn yuánzé。

Non-violence and patience are the central tenets of their faith.
8
在全面质量管理原则下,对质量的追求是持续不断的。

zài quánmiàn zhìliàng guǎnlǐ yuánzé xià, duì zhìliàng de zhuīqiú shì chíxù búduàn de。

Under TQM principles the search for quality is continuous.
9
对工人的裁员原则是“后进先出”。

duì gōngrén de cáiyuán yuánzé shì“ hòu jìn xiān chū”。

Workers will go on a "last in, first out" basis.
10
别管是谁, 一律按原则办事.

bié guǎn shì shéi, yīlǜ àn yuánzé bànshì.

No matter who it is, we'll act according to principle.

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Frequently asked questions about 原则

You can say, '我总是遵循我的原则' (I always follow my principles).

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