‘常规’ (cháng guī) literally combines ‘常’ (cháng), meaning ‘usual’ or ‘frequent’, and ‘规’ (guī), meaning ‘rule’ or ‘norm’. Together, it refers to established, habitual practices or standard procedures that people follow regularly—whether in daily life, work, medicine, or education. It emphasizes predictability and accepted norms rather than exceptions or innovations.

This word is commonly used in formal or semi-formal contexts: for example, ‘常规检查’ (routine medical check-up), ‘常规操作’ (standard operating procedure), or ‘打破常规’ (to break with convention). Unlike the more casual ‘习惯’ (xí guàn, ‘habit’), ‘常规’ carries a sense of institutionalized or socially sanctioned practice—it’s what’s expected, not just what’s personally familiar.