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则

zé

1. correlative conjunction then; in that case (linking a condition to its result; literary)

   欲速则不达。

   Yù sù zé bù dá.

   Haste makes waste.

2. correlative conjunction but; while (marking contrast)

   今年的收成，粮食增产，蔬菜则略有减少。

   Jīnnián de shōuchéng, liángshi zēngchǎn, shūcài zé lüè yǒu jiǎnshǎo.

   This year's harvest: grain output rose, while vegetables fell slightly.

3. noun rule; norm; standard

   做人要有自己的原则。

   Zuò rén yào yǒu zìjǐ de yuánzé.

   One should have one's own principles in life.

4. measure word (measure word for items of writing, e.g. pieces of news)

   报纸上登了两则寻人启事。

   Bàozhǐ shàng dēng le liǎng zé xún rén qǐshì.

   The newspaper carried two missing-person notices.

The full ChinesePath dictionary entry for 则 includes audio for every reading and example sentence, more example sentences, collocations, synonyms and links to the course units where it is taught.