‘则例’ is a formal, classical Chinese compound meaning 'regulations' or 'statutes'—typically referring to official, codified rules established by authorities, especially in historical, administrative, or institutional contexts. The character 则 (zé) originally meant 'rule', 'principle', or 'standard', while 例 (lì) means 'precedent', 'example', or 'regulation'. Together, they form a literary term emphasizing authoritative, written norms—not everyday guidelines but binding provisions, often found in imperial edicts, bureaucratic handbooks, or modern legal/administrative documents.

This word carries a distinctly formal, even archaic register and is rarely used in casual speech. It appears frequently in historical texts, academic discussions of governance, or official publications describing standardized procedures—for instance, tax regulations, archival management protocols, or civil service examination criteria. While modern Mandarin often uses 法规 (fǎguī) or 规章 (guīzhāng) for 'regulations', 则例 conveys greater weight, tradition, and institutional specificity.