====== guīdìng: 规定 - Rule, Regulation, To Stipulate ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** guiding, 规定, Chinese rule, Chinese regulation, what does guiding mean, Chinese law, company policy China, 規定, to stipulate in Chinese, HSK 4 vocabulary
  * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **规定 (guīdìng)**, which means 'rule,' 'regulation,' or the verb 'to stipulate.' This page breaks down its meaning, from official laws and company policies to formal requirements. Discover how **规定 (guīdìng)** shapes daily life in China, understand its cultural importance, and learn to use it correctly with practical examples, making your Chinese more natural and accurate.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** guīdìng
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun, Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** A rule, regulation, or provision; to set a rule or stipulate something officially.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **规定 (guīdìng)** as any kind of "official rule" set by an authority. It's not a casual suggestion; it's a formal requirement from a government, a school, a company, or in a contract. As a noun, it's 'the rule' itself (e.g., "school regulations"). As a verb, it's the action of 'making the rule' (e.g., "the law stipulates"). It carries a strong sense of formality and obligation.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **规 (guī):** This character originally referred to a compass used for drawing circles. By extension, it represents a 'standard', 'rule', or 'regulation'—the idea of setting a perfect, clear boundary for behavior.
  * **定 (dìng):** This character means 'to decide', 'to fix', or 'to set in place'. It implies stability, certainty, and finality.
  * Together, **规定 (guīdìng)** literally means "to fix a standard" or "to decide on a rule." The characters combine to create a powerful sense of a formally established and unchangeable regulation.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, which often emphasizes social order, harmony, and collective well-being, **规定 (guīdìng)** is a foundational concept. It represents the formal framework that ensures society, companies, and institutions function smoothly and predictably. Following the **规定** is not just a legal obligation but is often seen as a social responsibility and a sign of respect for the collective and for authority.
A useful comparison is to the English concepts of "regulation" versus "guideline." In the West, a "regulation" can sometimes have a negative connotation of bureaucratic red tape that can be challenged or worked around. A **规定 (guīdìng)**, however, carries a much heavier, less negotiable weight. Even when it's a company rule (公司规定), it's often treated with the seriousness one might reserve for "The Law" in the West. This reflects a cultural value where clear rules are seen as essential for preventing chaos (乱 luàn) and maintaining harmony.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**规定 (guīdìng)** is a formal word used in official contexts. You will encounter it constantly in relation to laws, company policies, school rules, and contractual terms.
  * **As a Noun (the rule itself):** This is its most common usage. It refers to a specific, written rule or a set of rules.
    * `公司的**规定**` (gōngsī de **guīdìng**) - Company regulations
    * `学校的**规定**` (xuéxiào de **guīdìng**) - School rules
    * `交通**规定**` (jiāotōng **guīdìng**) - Traffic regulations
  * **As a Verb (to set a rule):** This is used when an authority establishes a rule. It's common in formal documents and announcements.
    * `法律**规定**...` (fǎlǜ **guīdìng**...) - The law stipulates that...
    * `合同**规定**...` (hétong **guīdìng**...) - The contract stipulates that...
The word is neutral, but people can complain about a specific **规定** being unfair or unreasonable (这个规定不合理 - zhège guīdìng bù hélǐ).
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 按照**规定**，这里不准停车。
    * Pinyin: Ànzhào **guīdìng**, zhèlǐ bù zhǔn tíngchē.
    * English: According to the regulations, parking is not allowed here.
    * Analysis: `按照规定` (ànzhào guīdìng) is a very common and formal phrase used to state that an action is based on an existing rule.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 每个公司都有自己的**规定**。
    * Pinyin: Měi gè gōngsī dōu yǒu zìjǐ de **guīdìng**.
    * English: Every company has its own regulations.
    * Analysis: Here, **规定** is used as a noun to mean "rules" or "policy" in a business context.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 法律**规定**，驾驶时必须系好安全带。
    * Pinyin: Fǎlǜ **guīdìng**, jiàshǐ shí bìxū jì hǎo ānquán dài.
    * English: The law stipulates that you must fasten your seatbelt while driving.
    * Analysis: This shows **规定** used as a verb, meaning "to stipulate" or "to decree." The subject is an authority (the law).
  * **Example 4:**
    * 这是我们学校的新**规定**，所有学生都必须遵守。
    * Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒmen xuéxiào de xīn **guīdìng**, suǒyǒu xuéshēng dōu bìxū zūnshǒu.
    * English: This is our school's new regulation; all students must abide by it.
    * Analysis: A classic example of **规定** in an educational setting. Note the use of `遵守` (zūnshǒu), which means "to comply with" or "to obey."
  * **Example 5:**
    * 合同里清楚地**规定**了付款日期。
    * Pinyin: Hétong lǐ qīngchǔ de **guīdìng** le fùkuǎn rìqī.
    * English: The contract clearly stipulates the payment date.
    * Analysis: Demonstrates the verb usage in a formal business or legal document (a contract).
  * **Example 6:**
    * 如果你违反了公司**规定**，你可能会被解雇。
    * Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ wéifǎn le gōngsī **guīdìng**, nǐ kěnéng huì bèi jiěgù.
    * English: If you violate company regulations, you might be fired.
    * Analysis: Shows the consequences of not following a **规定**. `违反` (wéifǎn) means "to violate."
  * **Example 7:**
    * 关于报销，公司有什么特别的**规定**吗？
    * Pinyin: Guānyú bàoxiāo, gōngsī yǒu shénme tèbié de **guīdìng** ma?
    * English: Regarding reimbursement, does the company have any special regulations?
    * Analysis: A very practical question for anyone working in a Chinese company.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 这个**规定**太不合理了，我们应该向经理反映一下。
    * Pinyin: Zhège **guīdìng** tài bù hélǐ le, wǒmen yīnggāi xiàng jīnglǐ fǎnyìng yīxià.
    * English: This regulation is too unreasonable; we should give feedback to the manager.
    * Analysis: This shows that while **规定** must be followed, it doesn't mean people can't disagree with it or find it unfair.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 政府**规定**，所有公共场所室内都禁止吸烟。
    * Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ **guīdìng**, suǒyǒu gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ shìnèi dōu jìnzhǐ xīyān.
    * English: The government stipulates that smoking is prohibited inside all public places.
    * Analysis: A perfect example of a government-mandated rule, where **规定** acts as the verb "to stipulate."
  * **Example 10:**
    * 我不清楚图书馆的借书**规定**，你能告诉我吗？
    * Pinyin: Wǒ bù qīngchǔ túshūguǎn de jiè shū **guīdìng**, nǐ néng gàosù wǒ ma?
    * English: I'm not clear on the library's book-borrowing regulations, can you tell me?
    * Analysis: Shows **规定** in a common, everyday situation that still involves a formal institution (a library).
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
A frequent point of confusion for learners is distinguishing **规定** from similar words like `规则` and `规矩`.
  * **规定 (guīdìng) vs. [[规则]] (guīzé):**
    * **规定 (guīdìng):** A top-down, formal rule set by an authority (law, company policy). It's a "regulation" or "stipulation."
    * **规则 (guīzé):** The rules of a system, a game, or a natural pattern. It's about how something works.
    * **Incorrect:** `国际象棋的**规定**很难。` (The regulations of chess are hard.)
    * **Correct:** `国际象棋的**规则**很难。` (The rules of chess are hard.)
  * **规定 (guīdìng) vs. [[规矩]] (guīju):**
    * **规定 (guīdìng):** A formal, often written, official rule.
    * **规矩 (guīju):** An unwritten social rule, custom, or standard of proper behavior. It's about manners and etiquette.
    * **Incorrect:** `公司的**规矩**是九点上班。` (While understandable, it sounds informal. A company policy is official.)
    * **Correct:** `公司的**规定**是九点上班。` (The company regulation is to start work at 9.)
    * **Correct:** `在长辈面前要有**规矩**。` (You must have good manners in front of elders.) You would never use **规定** here.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[规则]] (guīzé) - Rules (of a game, system, grammar). More general and less about authority than **规定**.
  * [[法律]] (fǎlǜ) - Law. The most formal and powerful type of **规定**, enforced by the state.
  * [[政策]] (zhèngcè) - Policy. A course of action or principle adopted by a government or organization. A **规定** is often a specific rule that implements a **政策**.
  * [[制度]] (zhìdù) - System; institution. Refers to the entire framework of rules and structures (e.g., the legal system `法律制度`), of which **规定** are a part.
  * [[规矩]] (guīju) - Social custom, unwritten rule, manners. More about social etiquette than formal enforcement.
  * [[办法]] (bànfǎ) - Method; means; measure. Often refers to a specific set of procedures or measures for implementing something, which can function like a set of regulations.
  * [[条例]] (tiáolì) - Regulations; ordinances. A formal name for a set of rules or articles, often used in legal or governmental documents.
  * [[遵守]] (zūnshǒu) - To comply with; to abide by. The verb most commonly paired with **规定**.
  * [[违反]] (wéifǎn) - To violate; to go against. The antonym of `遵守` when discussing rules.