====== chángguī: 常规 - Conventional, Routine, Standard Practice ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** chángguī, 常规, conventional in Chinese, routine in Chinese, standard procedure Chinese, normal practice, by the book, routine checkup, 常规检查, 常规操作, conventional weapons
  * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and use of **常规 (chángguī)**, a key Chinese term for anything that is **conventional, routine, or standard practice**. This page explores how `常规` is used in medicine (routine checkups), business (standard operations), and military contexts, distinguishing it from personal habits. Understand its cultural significance and see practical examples to master its use.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** chángguī
  * **Part of Speech:** Adjective, Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5
  * **Concise Definition:** Conforming to an established rule or convention; a standard procedure or routine.
  * **In a Nutshell:** `常规` refers to the "by-the-book" way of doing things. It's not about your personal morning routine, but about established, official, or widely accepted procedures in a system—like a company's standard process or a doctor's routine examination. It implies predictability, reliability, and adherence to a pre-defined standard. Think of it as the opposite of "special" or "exceptional."
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **常 (cháng):** This character means "common," "ordinary," "frequent," or "constant." You see it in words like `常常 (chángcháng)` (often) and `平常 (píngcháng)` (ordinary). It points to something that happens regularly and is not unusual.
  * **规 (guī):** This character means "rule," "regulation," or "compass/ruler." It refers to a standard, a guideline, or a tool used for measurement and drawing perfect shapes. It carries the sense of order and established norms.
When combined, **常规 (chángguī)** literally translates to "common rule" or "standard regulation." This perfectly captures the idea of a procedure or method that is the standard, accepted, and regularly followed way of doing things.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
`常规` reflects a value for order, systemization, and predictability that is important in Chinese organizational culture and bureaucracy. Following the `常规` ensures fairness, consistency, and efficiency within a large system. It minimizes ambiguity and risk by providing a clear, pre-approved path for action.
A helpful comparison is to the Western concept of "Standard Operating Procedure" (SOP) or "best practices." Both concepts aim for efficiency and consistency. However, in some Western business cultures, there's a strong emphasis on "disruption" and "thinking outside the box." While innovation is also valued in China, straying from the `常规` without a very good reason can sometimes be viewed as risky or unnecessarily complicated. Adhering to `常规` is often seen as a sign of diligence and reliability, not a lack of creativity. It's about ensuring the foundational tasks are done correctly before seeking exceptions.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
`常规` is a common and practical term used across various formal and semi-formal domains.
**In Medicine:**
This is one of the most common contexts. A `常规检查 (chángguī jiǎnchá)` is a "routine check-up" or "standard tests" (e.g., blood test, blood pressure) that a doctor performs.
**In Business and Work:**
It refers to standard procedures. A `常规会议 (chángguī huìyì)` is a "regularly scheduled meeting." The phrase `常规操作 (chángguī cāozuò)` means "standard operation." Interestingly, this has also become popular internet slang, often used with a shrug to mean "business as usual," "that's just how it is," or "a typical move from him/her/them."
**In Military and Politics:**
`常规武器 (chángguī wǔqì)` means "conventional weapons," as distinguished from nuclear or biological weapons. It refers to standard, non-exceptional military hardware.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
  * 医生建议我每年做一次**常规**体检。
  * Pinyin: Yīshēng jiànyì wǒ měi nián zuò yī cì **chángguī** tǐjiǎn.
  * English: The doctor recommended I get a **routine** physical check-up every year.
  * Analysis: Here, `常规` is used as an adjective to describe a standard, non-specialized medical examination. This is a very common and important collocation.
  * **Example 2:**
  * 这只是一个**常规**会议，讨论一些日常工作。
  * Pinyin: Zhè zhǐshì yī ge **chángguī** huìyì, tǎolùn yīxiē rìcháng gōngzuò.
  * English: This is just a **routine** meeting to discuss some daily work.
  * Analysis: `常规` modifies "meeting" to indicate it's a regularly scheduled one, not an emergency or special-purpose meeting.
  * **Example 3:**
  * 迟到对他来说已经是**常规**操作了。
  * Pinyin: Chídào duì tā lái shuō yǐjīng shì **chángguī** cāozuò le.
  * English: Being late is already a **standard move** for him. (Lit: "standard operation")
  * Analysis: This shows the modern, slightly informal/slang usage of `常规操作`. It's used ironically to describe a predictable (and often negative) behavior.
  * **Example 4:**
  * 我们必须打破**常规**，寻找新的解决方案。
  * Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū dǎpò **chángguī**, xúnzhǎo xīn de jiějué fāng'àn.
  * English: We must break with **convention** and find a new solution.
  * Analysis: In this sentence, `常规` is used as a noun meaning "convention" or "the routine." `打破常规 (dǎpò chángguī)` is a set phrase for "breaking the mold."
  * **Example 5:**
  * 该国承诺不首先使用核武器，只依赖**常规**威慑。
  * Pinyin: Gāi guó chéngnuò bù shǒuxiān shǐyòng héwǔqì, zhǐ yīlài **chángguī** wēishè.
  * English: The country pledged not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, relying only on **conventional** deterrence.
  * Analysis: This demonstrates the military/political use, distinguishing "conventional" from "nuclear" (`核`).
  * **Example 6:**
  * 按照**常规**，新员工需要先接受三天的培训。
  * Pinyin: Ànzhào **chángguī**, xīn yuángōng xūyào xiān jiēshòu sān tiān de péixùn.
  * English: According to **standard procedure**, new employees must first receive three days of training.
  * Analysis: Here, `常规` is a noun meaning "standard procedure" or "the norm." `按照常规` means "according to convention."
  * **Example 7:**
  * 运动员完成了一套没有失误的**常规**动作。
  * Pinyin: Yùndòngyuán wánchéngle yī tào méiyǒu shīwù de **chángguī** dòngzuò.
  * English: The athlete completed a flawless **routine**.
  * Analysis: In sports like gymnastics or diving, `常规动作` refers to the compulsory or standard routine.
  * **Example 8:**
  * 这个问题不能用**常规**方法解决，需要特殊处理。
  * Pinyin: Zhè ge wèntí bù néng yòng **chángguī** fāngfǎ jiějué, xūyào tèshū chǔlǐ.
  * English: This problem can't be solved with **conventional** methods; it requires special handling.
  * Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts `常规` (conventional) with `特殊` (special), highlighting its core meaning.
  * **Example 9:**
  * 公司的财务审计是每年的**常规**项目。
  * Pinyin: Gōngsī de cáiwù shěnjì shì měi nián de **chángguī** xiàngmù.
  * English: The company's financial audit is a **routine** item every year.
  * Analysis: This shows `常规` used to describe a recurring, predictable event in a business context.
  * **Example 10:**
  * 警察正在进行**常规**巡逻。
  * Pinyin: Jǐngchá zhèngzài jìnxíng **chángguī** xúnluó.
  * English: The police are on a **routine** patrol.
  * Analysis: `常规` indicates that the patrol is a standard, scheduled duty, not a response to a specific emergency.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing **`常规` (chángguī)** with **`习惯` (xíguàn)**.
  *   **`常规` (chángguī)** refers to an **external, systemic, or official routine/procedure**. It's about a group, an organization, or a system.
  *   **`习惯` (xíguàn)** refers to a **personal, individual habit**. It's about what *you* do.
**Incorrect Usage:**
  *   `我每天早上跑步是我的常规。` (Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang pǎobù shì wǒ de chángguī.)
  *   **Why it's wrong:** Running every morning is a personal habit, not an official or systemic procedure.
  *   **Correct Usage:** `我每天早上跑步是我的**习惯**。` (Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang pǎobù shì wǒ de **xíguàn**.)
**Correct Usage of `常规`:**
  *   `公司每周开一次例会，这是一个**常规**。` (Gōngsī měi zhōu kāi yī cì lìhuì, zhè shì yī ge **chángguī**.)
  *   **Why it's right:** The weekly meeting is a standard procedure for the company (an organization).
Think of it this way: Your company has `常规` (routines), but you have `习惯` (habits).
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[惯例]] (guànlì) - Convention, custom. Very similar to `常规`, but `惯例` often implies a practice established through long-standing custom, whereas `常规` can refer to a formally defined rule.
  * [[规定]] (guīdìng) - Rule, regulation. A `规定` is the specific rule itself, while `常规` is the procedure that follows that rule.
  * [[标准]] (biāozhǔn) - Standard, criterion. A `标准` is the benchmark that a `常规` process aims to meet.
  * [[正常]] (zhèngcháng) - Normal, regular. Describes a state or condition. A `常规` (routine) procedure should result in a `正常` (normal) outcome.
  * [[习惯]] (xíguàn) - Habit. The conceptual opposite: a personal habit vs. an external, systemic routine.
  * [[特殊]] (tèshū) - Special, particular. The direct antonym of `常规`. A `特殊情况 (tèshū qíngkuàng)` (special situation) requires non-`常规` measures.
  * [[例行]] (lìxíng) - Routine. A very close synonym, often used in phrases like `例行公事 (lìxíng gōngshì)` (routine business/formality). It strongly emphasizes the scheduled, recurring nature of an action.