则
则 (zé) means “then”. It is made of 贝 + 刂 and has 6 strokes, and is an old HSK 5 word (HSK 2.0).
Break 则 into its parts
What 则 is made of
- 贝 bèi — sea shell
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 人 rén — person
- 冂 — frame
- 刂 dāo — knife
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 亅 — hook
Origin hint: Laws inscribed 刂 on a slate 贝 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
则 stroke order
Example sentences
他喜欢安静，他妹妹则喜欢热闹。Tā xǐhuan ānjìng, tā mèimei zé xǐhuan rènao.He likes quiet, while his sister likes lively places.
如果有问题，则需要马上解决。Rúguǒ yǒu wèntí, zé xūyào mǎshàng jiějué.If there is a problem, it must be solved at once.
Words with 则
Also built with 贝
- 员yuánmember
- 坝bàembankment
- 狈bèia legendary wolf
- 负fùload
- 贡gòngto offer
- 财cáiriches
- 责zéone's responsibility
- 贤xiánvirtuous
- 败bàito lose
- 账zhàngaccounts
- 货huògoods
- 贩fànmerchant
Quick facts
| Pinyin | zé |
|---|---|
| Meaning | then; however (formal, for contrast) |
| Strokes | 6 |
| Radical | 刀 (knife, #18) |
| Pattern | Left–right |
| HSK | Old HSK 5 |
Questions about 则
What does 则 mean?
则 (zé) means “then; however (formal, for contrast)”.
How many strokes does 则 have?
则 has 6 strokes.
What is the radical of 则?
The radical of 则 is 刀 (dāo, “knife”), Kangxi radical number 18.
What parts make up 则?
则 is made of 贝 (sea shell) and 刂 (knife).
Which HSK level is 则?
则 is in Old HSK 5.
Learn 则 with its group
It is part of Old HSK 5 · Group 118: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.