潜规则
qián guī zé
Pinyin

Definition

潜规则
 - 
qián guī zé
  1. unspoken rules (usually ones that codify improper behaviors such as leveraging guanxi to get favorable treatment, or coercing employees for sexual favors)

Character Decomposition

Related Words (20)

则
zé
  1. 1 (conjunction used to express contrast with a previous clause) but
  2. 2 then
  3. 3 standard
  4. 4 norm
  5. 5 principle
  6. 6 to imitate
  7. 7 to follow
  8. 8 classifier for written items
原则
yuán zé
  1. 1 principle
  2. 2 doctrine
  3. 3 CL:個|个[gè]
否则
fǒu zé
  1. 1 if not
  2. 2 otherwise
  3. 3 else
  4. 4 or else
潜伏
qián fú
  1. 1 to hide
  2. 2 to cover up
  3. 3 to conceal
规则
guī zé
  1. 1 rule
  2. 2 regulation
  3. 3 rules and regulations
规划
guī huà
  1. 1 to plan (how to do sth)
  2. 2 planning
  3. 3 plan
  4. 4 program
规定
guī dìng
  1. 1 provision
  2. 2 to fix
  3. 3 to set
  4. 4 to formulate
  5. 5 to stipulate
  6. 6 to provide
  7. 7 regulation
  8. 8 rule
  9. 9 CL:個|个[gè]
规律
guī lu:4
  1. 1 rule (e.g. of science)
  2. 2 law of behavior
  3. 3 regular pattern
  4. 4 rhythm
  5. 5 discipline
规模
guī mó
  1. 1 scale
  2. 2 scope
  3. 3 extent
  4. 4 CL:個|个[gè]
不规则
bù guī zé
  1. 1 irregular
以身作则
yǐ shēn zuò zé
  1. 1 to set an example (idiom); to serve as a model
大规模
dà guī mó
  1. 1 large scale
  2. 2 extensive
  3. 3 wide scale
  4. 4 broad scale
守则
shǒu zé
  1. 1 rules
  2. 2 regulations
实则
shí zé
  1. 1 actually
  2. 2 in fact
常规
cháng guī
  1. 1 code of conduct
  2. 2 conventions
  3. 3 common practice
  4. 4 routine (medical procedure etc)
循规蹈矩
xún guī dǎo jǔ
  1. 1 to follow the compass and go with the set square (idiom); to follow the rules inflexibly
  2. 2 to act according to convention
正规
zhèng guī
  1. 1 regular
  2. 2 according to standards
武则天
Wǔ Zé tiān
  1. 1 Wu Zetian (624-705), Tang empress, reigned 690-705
法则
fǎ zé
  1. 1 law
  2. 2 rule
  3. 3 code
法规
fǎ guī
  1. 1 legislation
  2. 2 statute

Idioms (20)

一则以喜，一则以忧
yī zé yǐ xǐ , yī zé yǐ yōu
  1. 1 happy on the one hand, but worried on the other (idiom)
不以规矩，不能成方圆
bù yǐ guī ju , bù néng chéng fāng yuán
  1. 1 without rules, nothing can be done (idiom, from Mencius); one must follow some rules
不俭则匮
bù jiǎn zé kuì
  1. 1 wastage makes one destitute (idiom)
以身作则
yǐ shēn zuò zé
  1. 1 to set an example (idiom); to serve as a model
俭则不缺
jiǎn zé bù quē
  1. 1 frugality prevents destitution (idiom)
勤则不匮
qín zé bù kuì
  1. 1 If one is industrious, one will not be in want. (idiom)
墨守成规
mò shǒu chéng guī
  1. 1 hidebound by convention (idiom)
学而优则仕
xué ér yōu zé shì
  1. 1 one who is successful in one's studies, can become an official (idiom)
小不忍则乱大谋
xiǎo bù rěn zé luàn dà móu
  1. 1 (idiom) great plans can be ruined by just a touch of impatience
循规蹈矩
xún guī dǎo jǔ
  1. 1 to follow the compass and go with the set square (idiom); to follow the rules inflexibly
  2. 2 to act according to convention
成则为王，败则为寇
chéng zé wéi wáng , bài zé wéi kòu
  1. 1 lit. called a king if successful, called a bandit if defeated (idiom)
  2. 2 fig. losers are always in the wrong
既来之，则安之
jì lái zhī , zé ān zhī
  1. 1 Since they have come, we should make them comfortable (idiom). Since we're here, take it easy.
  2. 2 Since this is so, we should accept it.
  3. 3 Now we have come, let's stay and take the rough with the smooth.
  4. 4 If you can't do anything to prevent it, you might as well sit back and enjoy it.
有则改之，无则加勉
yǒu zé gǎi zhī , wú zé jiā miǎn
  1. 1 correct any mistakes you made, but maintain your good record if you did not make them (idiom)
欲速则不达
yù sù zé bù dá
  1. 1 lit. to want sth in haste, but cannot get there (idiom, from Analects); more haste, less speed
  2. 2 don't try to run before you can walk
水至清则无鱼，人至察则无徒
shuǐ zhì qīng zé wú yú , rén zhì chá zé wú tú
  1. 1 water that is too clear has no fish, and one who is too severe has no friends (idiom)
没有规矩，不成方圆
méi yǒu guī ju , bù chéng fāng yuán
  1. 1 without rules, nothing can be done (idiom); one must follow some rules
没有规矩，何以成方圆
méi yǒu guī ju , hé yǐ chéng fāng yuán
  1. 1 without rules, how can anything be done (idiom); one must follow some rules
潜神默记
qián shén mò jì
  1. 1 to devote oneself to a task in silence (idiom)
潜逃无踪
qián táo wú zōng
  1. 1 to abscond without leaving a trace (idiom)
穷则思变
qióng zé sī biàn
  1. 1 when you hit bottom, you have to come up with a new approach (idiom)

Sample Sentences

一打啤酒对俄罗斯人来说只是小意思，这是大家都知道的常识。但是你知道吗？俄罗斯人喝啤酒，有一个潜规则，他们如果找你喝酒，绝对不能拒绝。
yīdá píjiǔ duì Éluósī rén láishuō zhǐshì xiǎoyìsi ，zhèshì dàjiā dōu zhīdào de chángshí 。dànshì nǐ zhīdào ma ？Éluósī rén hē píjiǔ ，yǒu yīgē qiánguīzé ，tāmen rúguǒ zhǎo nǐ hējiǔ ，juéduì bùnéng jùjué 。
A dozen of beers is a piece of cake for Russian, which is common sense that everyone knows. But you know that? Russians have a hidden rule when it comes to drinking beers, that is, if they invite you for a drink, you can’t say no.
Go to Lesson 
哎呀，潜规则那玩意儿都是八百年前的事儿了？没什么搞头。我告诉你，我们杂志社的第二春要来了。
āiyā ，qiánguīzé nà wányìr5 dōu shì bābǎi nián qián de shìr5 le ？méi shénme gǎotou 。wǒ gàosu nǐ ，wǒmen zázhìshè de dì èr chūn yào lái le 。
Agh, those unwritten rules are eight hundred years old. There's nothing worth talking about there. I'm telling you, this is our magazine's big comeback.
Go to Lesson 
我是美国人，我的中文名字是何思哲。我大学一毕业就来中国了。先去了一个小城市，一边教英文一边学中文。我去过很多地方，还在少林寺学过半年功夫。我对老子和道教很感兴趣。我了解一些中国的潜规则，譬如要在饭桌上谈生意......
wǒ shì Měiguó rén ，wǒ de Zhōngwén míngzi shì Hé Sīzhé 。wǒ dàxué yī bìyè jiù lái Zhōngguó le 。xiān qù le yī gè xiǎo chéngshì ，yībiān jiāo Yīngwén yībiān xué Zhōngwén 。wǒ qù guo hěn duō dìfang ，hái zài Shàolínsì xué guo bàn nián gōngfu 。wǒ duì Lǎozǐ hé Dàojiào hěn gǎn xìngqù 。wǒ liǎojiě yīxiē Zhōngguó de qiánguīzé ，pìrú yào zài fànzhuō shàng tán shēngyì ......
I'm an American. My Chinese name is He Sizhe. I came to China right after graduating from university. At first, I went to a small city and taught English while studying Chinese. I've been to many different places and I also studied kung-fu at a Shaolin temple for 6 months. I'm really interested in Lao-Tzu and Taoism. I understand a bit about the unspoken rules of Chinese culture. For example, you have to talk business at the dinner table...
Go to Lesson 
你少来了，我对你付出多少你自己心里清楚。姓魏的，虽然靠潜规则上位，我们女人多少会有点吃亏。但你别忘了，最近的一次我全都拍下来了。
nǐ shǎo lái le ，wǒ duì nǐ fùchū duōshao nǐ zìjǐ xīnli qīngchǔ 。xìng Wèi de ，suīrán kào qiánguīzé shàngwèi ，wǒmen nǚrén duōshao huì yǒudiǎnr chīkuī 。dàn nǐ bié wàng le ，zuìjìn de yīcì wǒ quándōu pāi xiàlai le 。
Don't bother. You should know how much I've done for you. Mr. Wei, just because the things we have to do to move up in the world are considered 'unspoken rules', it doesn't mean us women don't suffer because of it. But you shouldn't forget that thing that happened recently. I filmed the entire thing.
Go to Lesson