则

zé

HSK 6, 7

则 — zé

1. (literary) (conjunction used to express contrast with a previous clause) but; then; therefore

   他不来，则我自己去办。 tā bùlái zé wǒ zìjǐ qù bàn — If he doesn't come, then I'll handle it myself.

2. (bound form) standard; norm

   做人应以诚信为则。 zuòrén yīngyǐ chéngxìn wèi zé — In life one should take honesty as one's standard.

3. (bound form) principle

   公平公正是我们工作的原则。 gōngpíng gōngzhèng shì wǒmen gōngzuò de yuánzé — Fairness and impartiality are the principles of our work.

4. (literary) to imitate; to follow

   后人当以先贤为则。 hòurén dāng yǐ xiānxián wèi zé — Later generations should follow the sages as models.

5. classifier for written items

   两则新闻同时发布。 liǎngzé xīnwén tóngshí fābù — Two news items were released at the same time.