fǎguī: 法规 - Laws and Regulations

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Summary: Understand 法规 (fǎguī), the essential Chinese term for “laws and regulations.” This page explains what 法规 means, distinguishing it from the broader concept of 法律 (fǎlǜ) or “law.” Learn how these specific rules and regulations shape modern Chinese society, from business operations to daily life, and master its usage with practical examples and cultural context for a deeper understanding of China's legal framework.

Pinyin (with tone marks): fǎguī

Part of Speech: Noun

HSK Level: HSK 6

Concise Definition: Laws, rules, and regulations, particularly those established by a government authority to implement broader laws.

In a Nutshell: 法规 (fǎguī) is the nitty-gritty of the legal system. If 法律 (fǎlǜ) is the main highway, 法规 are all the specific traffic signs, speed limits, and local ordinances that tell you exactly how to drive on it. It's a broad term for the binding rules issued by government bodies that everyone—from individuals to giant corporations—must follow.

法 (fǎ): This character means “law,” “method,” or “standard.” The left side (氵) is the “water” radical, suggesting fairness and an even-flowing standard for everyone.

规 (guī): This character originally referred to a compass or a tool for drawing circles. By extension, it came to mean “rule,” “regulation,” or “standard”—something that sets a clear boundary or pattern to follow.

Together, 法规 (fǎguī) literally translates to “law-rules,” a powerful combination that refers to the established, legally-binding regulations that govern behavior in society.

法规 is a cornerstone of China's modern civil law system, which relies heavily on written statutes and codes. This reflects a long-standing tradition of top-down governance, where the state creates detailed rules to maintain social order and guide economic development. The sheer volume and specificity of 法规 in China show the government's active role in managing all aspects of society.

Comparison to Western Legal Concepts: In a common law system like the United States, judicial precedent (past court rulings) plays a massive role in shaping the law. In China, while judicial interpretations are gaining importance, the primary source of legal authority remains the written 法规 issued by legislative and administrative bodies. For a Westerner, understanding 法规 means shifting focus from “what did the courts decide?” to “what does the regulation explicitly say?”. This emphasis on written rules makes compliance a matter of carefully studying official documents rather than interpreting case law.

法规 is a formal and official term. You will encounter it frequently in news reports, government announcements, legal documents, and business contexts. It's not typically used in very casual, everyday chat unless discussing a specific new rule.

In Government and News: Media will report when the government 出台 (chūtái) - issues or rolls out - new 法规 on topics ranging from data security to food safety.

In Daily Life: An individual might discuss a new 交通法规 (jiāotōng fǎguī) (traffic regulation) that affects their commute or new housing regulations that impact the real estate market.

法律 (fǎlǜ): The most critical related term. It means “law” and refers to higher-level statutes enacted by the primary legislative body. 法规 are created to implement 法律.

规定 (guīdìng): “Rule,” “provision,” “stipulation.” A more granular term that can refer to a specific rule within a 法规, or even a company's internal policy (e.g., 公司规定 - company rules).

政策 (zhèngcè): “Policy.” Represents the government's direction, goals, or stance on an issue. A 政策 is not a law itself but often leads to the creation of new 法规 to put the policy into action.

条例 (tiáolì): “Regulations,” “rules.” Often used in the official titles of specific 法规, such as the “Regulations on the Management of…” (《…管理条例》). It is a specific type of 法规.

宪法 (xiànfǎ): “Constitution.” The supreme law of the land, the highest form of 法律.

遵守 (zūnshǒu): A verb meaning “to comply with” or “abide by.” Commonly used with 法规.

违反 (wéifǎn): A verb meaning “to violate” or “infringe.” The antonym of 遵守.

制度 (zhìdù): “System,” “institution.” A very broad term for a set of organized rules and practices (e.g., the legal system, 法律制度). A 制度 is upheld by 法规.