‘判例’ (pànlì) is a legal term meaning 'precedent'—a judicial decision in an earlier case that serves as an authoritative rule for deciding subsequent cases with similar facts or legal issues. The first character 判 (pàn) means 'to judge' or 'to adjudicate', reflecting the court’s act of rendering a decision; the second character 例 (lì) means 'example' or 'case', indicating a model or reference instance. Together, they literally convey 'a judged example'—i.e., a ruling that sets a standard for future rulings.

This term is used primarily in jurisdictions influenced by common law principles or in academic and reform-oriented discussions within China’s civil law system, where courts increasingly refer to guiding cases issued by the Supreme People’s Court. It appears in legal textbooks, judicial opinions, scholarly articles, and official guidelines—but not in everyday conversation. Unlike statutory law, 判例 carries persuasive rather than binding authority in most Chinese contexts, though its influence is growing.