Kilo Lingo

(guī dìng) - rule, regulation; to stipulate in Mandarin

guīdìng

Traditional: 規定

#2458 of 5,000 Core 5000

Translation

rule, regulation; to stipulate

Word origin

A compound of 规 (guī, a pair of compasses, hence a standard) and 定 (dìng, to fix, to settle), so a standard that has been fixed.

Origin
compound
Root
规 (guī, compasses, standard) + 定 (dìng, to settle, to fix)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 规

Stroke order for 定

Examples

The company has new rules.

This is a school regulation.

The law stipulates that this may not be done.

tián

Please fill it in according to the regulations.

He does not know about this rule.

规定 (guī dìng) is the written rule handed down by an institution: a company policy, a school regulation, a clause in the law. It is the language of noticeboards and forms.

It works as both noun and verb from the same two characters, which catches English speakers out. 法律规定... means "the law stipulates that...", with 规定 taking a whole clause after it. There is no separate verb to learn.

Keep it apart from 规则 (guī zé), which is the rule of a game or a system, and from 规矩 (guī ju), which is unwritten good manners. A 规定 you break gets you a fine; a 规矩 you break gets you a look.

Where this fits

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Mandarin · Free printables

规定: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "规定" (rule, regulation; to stipulate): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

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This word is part of lesson 50.