法律 (fǎ lǜ) means 'law' or 'statute' — the formal, written rules established by a government to regulate behavior and maintain order in society. The first character 法 (fǎ) conveys 'method', 'standard', or 'principle', while 律 (lǜ) means 'regulation' or 'rule'; together, they emphasize codified, authoritative rules rather than informal customs or moral guidelines. This term is used broadly in legal, governmental, and academic contexts.

法律 refers specifically to enacted statutes and legislation — not case law (which is less emphasized in China’s civil law system) or personal ethics. It appears in compound terms like 法律体系 (fǎlǜ tǐxì, 'legal system'), 法律责任 (fǎlǜ zérèn, 'legal liability'), and 法律援助 (fǎlǜ yuánzhù, 'legal aid'). Unlike the more general word 规则 (guīzé, 'rule'), 法律 carries formal, binding authority and is always associated with state power and enforcement.