則

Noun: A prescriptive norm, law, or mandate; a paradigm, model, or exemplary case; a specific clause, section, or graded category of text.

Verb: To pattern after, imitate, or take as a standard.

Conditional/Causal: Marks the result or consequence of a preceding condition (often paired with 若 or 如), translated as "then," "consequently," or "accordingly."

Contrastive/Distributive: Functions as a topic marker to highlight a distinction between subjects, translated as "whereas," "on the other hand," or "as for."

Fanqie reading: 子德; Tang-period reading: tzək; Simplified variant: U+5219.

Be cautious of omitting 則 in translation for the sake of fluidity; it frequently carries the primary logical weight of the sentence, signaling whether a relationship is one of necessity (causal) or distinction (contrastive).