纪律

• Pinyin: jì lǜ
• Hanzi breakdown: 纪 = 纟 (silk/thread) + 己 (self, phonetic) — threads of order; 律 = 彳 (step) + 聿 (writing brush) — written rules one walks by

Meaning

Discipline; rules and regulations. The standards of conduct and order that members of a group must follow.

Refers to the rules and behavioral standards within organizations, schools, the military, or workplaces. Emphasizes order and compliance. Common collocations include 遵守纪律 (observe discipline), 违反纪律 (violate discipline), and 纪律严明 (strict discipline).

Examples

1. 学校要求所有学生必须遵守纪律。 The school requires all students to observe discipline.
2. 他因为违反了公司纪律被批评了。 He was criticized for violating company discipline.
3. 这支队伍纪律严明，表现非常出色。 This team has strict discipline and outstanding performance.

Usage Guide

Context: school, workplace, military, organizations

Tone: authoritative

Do Say

• 军队的纪律非常严格。(Military discipline is very strict.)
• 我们要自觉遵守课堂纪律。(We should consciously observe classroom discipline.)

Don't Say

• 家里的纪律是九点睡觉 (Don't use 纪律 for household rules — use 规矩 or 规定; 纪律 implies institutional or organizational rules)

Origin & History

纪 (order, record, discipline) + 律 (law, rule) — the ordering rules that govern conduct.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal