guīlǜ: 规律 - Law, Pattern, Regularity

• Keywords: guilu, 规律, guilv, Chinese word for pattern, law in Chinese, natural law Chinese, rule in Chinese, Chinese grammar pattern, HSK 5 规律, objective law, regularity, rhythm
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 规律 (guīlǜ), the essential Chinese word for a 'law,' 'pattern,' or 'regularity.' This page explains how 规律 describes everything from the laws of physics and economic trends to daily routines and biological rhythms. Learn its character origins, cultural significance, and see how it differs from 'rule' (规则) and 'law' (法律) with 10+ practical example sentences for this key HSK 5 term.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): guī lǜ
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: An objective, inherent law, pattern, or regularity that governs how things exist and develop.
• In a Nutshell: 规律 (guīlǜ) isn't about traffic laws or school regulations. It refers to the underlying, often invisible, principles that make the world work in a predictable way. Think of the law of gravity, the pattern of the four seasons, the “rules” of a healthy diet, or the cycles of the economy. It's the natural rhythm of the universe and the inherent logic behind why things happen the way they do.

• 规 (guī): This character originally referred to a compass used for drawing circles. It represents a standard, a rule, or a regulation. Think of it as the tool that ensures consistency and order.
• 律 (lǜ): This character relates to law, statute, or rhythm (as in music). It implies a formal system or a consistent, repeating beat.
• When combined, 规律 (guīlǜ) literally means “standard law” or “standard rhythm.” This beautifully captures the concept of an objective, consistent principle or pattern that governs the world around us.

In Chinese thought, understanding and aligning oneself with 规律 (guīlǜ) is fundamental to success and harmony. This concept is deeply rooted in philosophies like Taoism, which emphasizes following the “Tao” (道) or the natural way of the universe. To a Taoist, living a good life means observing the 规律 of nature and acting in accordance with it, rather than struggling against it. This contrasts with a common Western emphasis on “conquering” nature or “breaking” the rules to innovate. While Chinese culture also values innovation, there's a profound respect for first understanding the inherent patterns of a system. For example, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (中医), health is achieved by maintaining the body's natural 规律 and balance, not just by attacking symptoms. Comparison with “Law”: In English, “law” often defaults to a man-made rule created by a government (e.g., traffic law). The Chinese word for this is 法律 (fǎlǜ). 规律 (guīlǜ) is closer to the concept of a “scientific law” (like the laws of thermodynamics) or a “natural pattern.” It is something that is discovered, not created.

规律 (guīlǜ) is a versatile and common word used in both formal and informal contexts.

• Science and Academia: It's the standard term for scientific laws and principles. You will frequently hear `自然规律 (zìrán guīlǜ)` for laws of nature, or `经济规律 (jīngjì guīlǜ)` for economic laws.
• Daily Life and Health: It is often used to describe routines and schedules. `生活规律 (shēnghuó guīlǜ)` means a “regular lifestyle” (e.g., eating and sleeping at consistent times). A doctor might advise a patient with an erratic schedule to make their life more `有规律 (yǒu guīlǜ)`, meaning “regular” or “orderly.” The opposite is `没规律 (méi guīlǜ)`, meaning “irregular” or “erratic.”
• Finding Patterns: You can use it when you've figured out a pattern in data, behavior, or a sequence of events. For example, “I found the 规律 in this puzzle.”

• Example 1:
  • 太阳东升西落是一个自然规律。
  • Pinyin: Tàiyáng dōng shēng xī luò shì yī ge zìrán guīlǜ.
  • English: The sun rising in the east and setting in the west is a natural law.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of 规律 referring to an undeniable, objective law of nature.
• Example 2:
  • 为了健康，你应该保持有规律的生活。
  • Pinyin: Wèile jiànkāng, nǐ yīnggāi bǎochí yǒu guīlǜ de shēnghuó.
  • English: For the sake of your health, you should maintain a regular lifestyle.
  • Analysis: Here, `有规律` acts as an adjective describing a life with a consistent pattern (e.g., regular sleep, meals).
• Example 3:
  • 我终于找到了这些数字的排列规律。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhōngyú zhǎodào le zhèxiē shùzì de páiliè guīlǜ.
  • English: I finally found the pattern in the arrangement of these numbers.
  • Analysis: This shows 规律 used for discovering a logical sequence or pattern in a set of data.
• Example 4:
  • 历史的发展有其客观规律。
  • Pinyin: Lìshǐ de fāzhǎn yǒu qí kèguān guīlǜ.
  • English: The development of history has its own objective laws.
  • Analysis: This is a more abstract, academic use, suggesting that historical events are not random but follow certain predictable patterns.
• Example 5:
  • 他吃饭的时间很没规律，对胃不好。
  • Pinyin: Tā chīfàn de shíjiān hěn méi guīlǜ, duì wèi bù hǎo.
  • English: His mealtimes are very irregular, which is bad for his stomach.
  • Analysis: `没规律` is the direct opposite of `有规律`, meaning “erratic” or “lacking a pattern.”
• Example 6:
  • 学习语言也需要掌握其中的规律。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxí yǔyán yě xūyào zhǎngwò qízhōng de guīlǜ.
  • English: Learning a language also requires grasping its underlying patterns (rules).
  • Analysis: In this context, 规律 refers to grammatical patterns and linguistic structures that, once understood, make learning easier.
• Example 7:
  • 经济危机似乎遵循着一定的规律，每隔几年就会发生一次。
  • Pinyin: Jīngjì wēijī sìhū zūnxún zhe yīdìng de guīlǜ, měi gé jǐ nián jiù huì fāshēng yī cì.
  • English: Economic crises seem to follow a certain pattern, occurring once every few years.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how 规律 can describe large-scale social or economic cycles and trends.
• Example 8:
  • 医生的诊断是他的心跳不规律。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng de zhěnduàn shì tā de xīntiào bù guīlǜ.
  • English: The doctor's diagnosis was that his heartbeat is irregular.
  • Analysis: Used in a medical context, `不规律` describes a biological rhythm that is not steady or predictable. Note the use of `不` here, which is interchangeable with `没` in many contexts like this.
• Example 9:
  • 我们必须认识和利用客观规律。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū rènshi hé lìyòng kèguān guīlǜ.
  • English: We must recognize and make use of objective laws.
  • Analysis: A common phrase in formal or academic writing, emphasizing the importance of working with, not against, inherent principles.
• Example 10:
  • 潮汐的涨落是有规律的。
  • Pinyin: Cháoxī de zhǎngluò shì yǒu guīlǜ de.
  • English: The rising and falling of the tides is regular (follows a pattern).
  • Analysis: Another straightforward example of a natural, predictable cycle being described as `有规律`.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 规律 (guīlǜ) with 规则 (guīzé) and 法律 (fǎlǜ).

• 规律 (guīlǜ) vs. 规则 (guīzé) - Inherent Pattern vs. Man-made Rule
  • 规律 (guīlǜ): An objective, inherent pattern that exists whether humans are there or not. Think: Law of Gravity.
  • 规则 (guīzé): A man-made regulation for a specific game, organization, or activity. Think: Rules of chess, school rules.
  • Incorrect: 我们的游戏规律很简单。(Wǒmen de yóuxì guīlǜ hěn jiǎndān.)
  • Why it's wrong: Game rules are created by people, they are not natural, inherent laws.
  • Correct: 我们的游戏规则很简单。(Wǒmen de yóuxì guīzé hěn jiǎndān.) - Our game's rules are very simple.
• 规律 (guīlǜ) vs. 法律 (fǎlǜ) - Natural Law vs. Legal Law
  • 规律 (guīlǜ): A principle of nature, science, or economics. There is no legal punishment for “breaking” it, only natural consequences.
  • 法律 (fǎlǜ): A legal statute created by a government and enforced by the police and courts.
  • Incorrect: 根据这个国家的规律，你不能闯红灯。(Gēnjù zhège guójiā de guīlǜ, nǐ bù néng chuǎng hóng dēng.)
  • Why it's wrong: A traffic light rule is a legal statute, not a law of nature.
  • Correct: 根据这个国家的法律，你不能闯红灯。(Gēnjù zhège guójiā de fǎlǜ, nǐ bù néng chuǎng hóng dēng.) - According to this country's laws, you can't run a red light.

• 规则 (guīzé) - A man-made rule or regulation for a specific system (e.g., a game, a company).
• 法律 (fǎlǜ) - Legal law; statutes enacted by a government.
• 原则 (yuánzé) - A principle; a fundamental belief or a guiding rule for behavior. More about ethics or approach than objective fact.
• 定律 (dìnglǜ) - A theorem or a fixed scientific law (e.g., Newton's Laws). It's more formal and specific to science/math than 规律.
• 模式 (móshì) - A model, pattern, or mode. Often refers to a specific template or way of doing things (e.g., a business model).
• 节奏 (jiézòu) - Rhythm or tempo. Closely related to the idea of a regular pattern, often used to describe the pace of life, work, or music.
• 周期 (zhōuqī) - A period or cycle. Refers to the specific interval of a recurring pattern described by a 规律.
• 常规 (chángguī) - Routine, convention, standard practice. Describes what is normally done.