zak1則则

Jyutpingzak1

Yalejāk

語素Common

Definition

Regulation, rule, or item to be complied with.

writtenother

How it's used

While 則 is a common morpheme in formal compounds like 規則 or 原則, it is rarely used as a standalone noun in casual spoken Cantonese. When people talk about rules in daily life, they almost always use 規矩 or 規條 instead. Using 則 alone can sound slightly archaic or overly formal, as if you are reciting a legal text.

Examples

gung1公si1司jau5有gung1公si1司ge3嘅zak1則，m4唔hou2好lyun6亂lai4嚟。

The company has its own rules, don't mess around.

nei5你zi1知m4唔zi1知ni1呢dou6度jau5有me1咩zak1則jiu3要sau2守aa3呀？

Do you know what rules there are to follow here?

Common phrases

kwai1規zak1則

rule

jyun4原zak1則

principle

Common mistake

Learners often mistake 則 for a general word for rule, but it is primarily a bound morpheme. If you use it alone in a sentence, it may sound like you are trying to speak in a literary or classical style rather than natural Cantonese.