則 means “rule, principle”

そく · soku

Also: law, follow, based on

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

のっとる, のり, すなわち

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ソク

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 5 · 9 strokes

The story

A knife (刂) beside a shell (貝), which in early bronze inscriptions was a cauldron: picture laws carved into metal so no one can change them. 規則 are rules, 原則 a principle, and 反則 is a foul in any sport.

Used in 規則 (kisoku, rule/regulation), 原則 (gensoku, principle), and 反則 (hansoku, foul/rule violation)

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• 委 committee
• 団 group
• 勢 force

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.