则

• Pinyin: zé
• Hanzi breakdown: 则 = 贝 (shell/treasure) + 刂 (knife radical) — carving principles

Meaning

Then; in that case; a rule or principle. A literary conjunction indicating consequence, contrast, or enumeration.

Highly versatile classical Chinese word still common in formal modern Chinese. Used in correlative constructions like 如果...则... (if...then...), 否则 (otherwise), and 原则 (principle). Also serves as a measure word for news items or jokes.

Examples

1. 如果天气好，则我们按原计划出发；否则，活动改期举行。 If the weather is good, then we’ll leave as originally planned; otherwise, the event will be postponed.
2. 既知其不可为，则当另寻他路，不必强行。 Since you know it can’t be done, then you should look for another way—there’s no need to force it.
3. 古人云，穷则独善其身，达则兼济天下。 As the ancients said: When poor, cultivate yourself; when successful, help the world.

Usage Guide

Context: writing, classical texts, formal speech

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 学如逆水行舟，不进则退，必须持续努力。(Learning is like rowing upstream — if you don't advance, you fall back; you must keep working hard.)
• 欲速则不达，做事要循序渐进才能成功。(Haste makes waste — one must proceed step by step to succeed.)

Don't Say

• 则我去 — in colloquial speech, use 那我就去 instead; 则 is literary

Origin & History

则 originally depicted a knife (刂) carving rules on bamboo strips (贝)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal