法律
hoat-lu̍t/fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly⁵¹/Hokkien
The English word 'law' can be translated into Chinese as 法律 (hoat-lu̍t). Wiktionary also lists фалү (falü).
Meaning: any rule that must or should be obeyed (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| фалү | falü | Dungan | |
| 法律 | hoat-lu̍t | /fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly⁵¹/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /fa²⁴ ly⁵¹/ (Mandarin, Dungan, Sinological IPA) /faːt̚³ lɵt̚²/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) /fap̚² lit̚⁵/ (Hakka, Sixian, Miaoli, Neipu, Sinological IPA) /fap⁵⁻² lut²/ (Hakka, Hailu, Zhudong, Sinological IPA) /huaʔ²⁴⁻²¹ l̃uʔ⁵/ (Min Dong, Fuzhou, Sinological IPA) /haʔ²¹⁻⁴⁵ lɔʔ⁴/ (Puxian Min, Sinological IPA, Putian) /haʔ²⁻⁴ luoʔ⁴/ (Puxian Min, Sinological IPA, Xianyou) /huat̚³²⁻⁴ lut̚⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Philippines, Singapore, Sinological IPA, Taipei, Kaohsiung, General Taiwanese) /huat̚³²⁻⁵ lut̚¹²¹/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Philippines, Singapore, Sinological IPA, General Taiwanese) /huat̚⁵⁻²⁴ lut̚²⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Philippines, Singapore, Sinological IPA, General Taiwanese) /huat̚³²⁻⁴ lut̚⁴³/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Philippines, Singapore, Sinological IPA, General Taiwanese) /huak̚²⁻⁴ luk̚⁴/ (Min Nan, Teochew, Sinological IPA) /huaʔ²⁻⁴ luʔ⁴/ (Min Nan, Teochew, Sinological IPA) /faʔ³³ liɪʔ⁴⁴/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Sinological IPA) /faʔ⁴⁴ liɪʔ⁴⁴/ (Wu, Northern, Suzhou, Sinological IPA) |
Hokkien |
法律 is used to refer to formal, codified laws and legal systems.
Which one should you use?
While 法律 refers to formal law, 规矩 is often used for social rules, customs or 'the rules' in a more informal or behavioral sense.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Southern China, particularly in Cantonese-speaking areas, the term 法例 is used to refer to law.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is hoat-lu̍t and the IPA is /fä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ly⁵¹/.
Did you know?
- The modern word 法律 was actually popularized in Chinese from the Japanese term ほうりつ, despite the characters originating in Classical Chinese.
- While 法律 is the standard term for law, the phrase 规矩 refers to social rules and is literally composed of characters for 'compass' and 'square'.
- In ancient China, the 'Legalist' school of philosophy argued that 法律 should be applied strictly and equally to all people regardless of their social rank.
Examples in context
- 法律很清楚。The law is quite clear.This sentence shows how to say the law is clear using 法律.Tatoeba #6114398 by verdastelo9604, translation #5747239 by CM
- 妳必須遵從法律。You must observe the law.This sentence describes the necessity of observing the law using 法律.Tatoeba #13109027 by LeviHighway, translation #321056 by lilygilder
- 法律面前人人平等。Everybody is equal before the law.This sentence expresses the concept of equality before the law using 法律.Tatoeba #482701 by biglion, translation #51719 by Eldad
- The professor teaches 法律 at the university.The professor teaches law at the university.
- The government has implemented new 法规 to prevent environmental pollution.The government has implemented new laws and regulations to prevent environmental pollution.
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zhiqiang and Jiayi are discussing a new regulation at work.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你知道这个法律吗？Nǐ zhīdào zhège fǎlǜ ma?Do you know about this law?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我还没读过法律条文。Wǒ hái méi dúguò fǎlǜ tiáowén.I haven't read the legal text yet.
- 志强 Zhiqiang法律要求我们必须这样做。Fǎlǜ yāoqiú wǒmen bìxū zhèyàng zuò.The law requires us to do it this way.
- 佳怡 Jiayi好吧，我们得遵守法律。Hǎo ba, wǒmen děi zūnshǒu fǎlǜ.Alright, we have to obey the law.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “law” translations and entries 法律, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 法律, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
