faat3 lai6法例
Jyutpingfaat3 lai6
Yalefaat laih
Definition
Laws, ordinances, or specific legal statutes.
neutralother
How it's used
Refers specifically to written statutes or ordinances rather than the abstract concept of law in general. It is frequently used in news reports or formal discussions regarding government regulations. When discussing the general concept of law or legal systems, use 法律 instead.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Was this ordinance just changed?
They broke the law and have to pay a fine.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 法律, which refers to the broader legal system or the concept of law. Using 法例 to describe the entire legal system sounds unnatural to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
