rule
/ruːl/ (bre, ipa) · /ruːl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrül/ (ame, mw)
rule — 名詞
- rulesingular
- rulesplural
1. An official or widely accepted instruction that sets out what is allowed and wha
規則；規定
在特定情況下須遵守的準則
An official or widely accepted instruction that sets out what is allowed and what is forbidden in a given context, such as a game, school, or workplace.
The school has a clear rule that students must wear uniforms every day.
學校有一條明確的規定：學生每天必須穿制服。
rule + that-clause for stating what must be done
Before playing chess, Wei read all the rules of the game carefully.
下棋之前，Wei 仔細讀了所有的比賽規則。
collocation: rules of the game
The company introduced a new rule about working from home on Fridays.
公司針對週五在家工作訂了一條新規定。
Breaking one rule in the competition means you cannot continue.
在比賽中違反一條規則，就無法繼續參賽。
According to the rules of the library, you must return books within three weeks.
根據圖書館的規定，你必須在三週內歸還書籍。
- regulation
more formal, often issued by an authority or government body
- principle
a broader, more general truth that guides behaviour, not a specific instruction
- guideline
a suggestion rather than a strict requirement
- exception
a case that does not follow the general rule
用法筆記
Countable noun. Often appears in the patterns 'rule that + clause' and 'rule about + noun/gerund'.
常見錯誤
2. The span of time when a specific leader, government, or organisation holds autho
統治
個人或團體掌權的時期
The span of time when a specific leader, government, or organisation holds authority over a nation and decides its direction.
The country enjoyed a long period of peace during the queen's rule.
在女王的統治下，該國享受了一段長期的和平。
collocation: during [someone's] rule
Many schools were built under the emperor's 40-year rule.
在皇帝四十年的統治期間，建立了許多學校。
After 20 years of military rule, the nation held its first free elections.
經過二十年的軍事統治後，該國舉行了首次自由選舉。
Historians still debate whether the colonial ruler's rule helped or harmed the region.
歷史學家仍在辯論殖民統治對該地區是好是壞。
The period of British rule in India lasted nearly 200 years.
英國在印度統治的時期持續了近兩百年。
- reign
specifically about the period a monarch rules
- government
focuses on the system or group in power, not the period
- control
more general; can apply to any kind of authority, not just over a country
用法筆記
Uncountable or countable. Often preceded by a possessive ('the king's rule') or an adjective + 'rule' ('military rule', 'colonial rule'). Frequently used with prepositions 'under', 'during', 'after'.
3. A long narrow object with a perfectly straight side and labelled units of length
直尺
畫直線及量長度的工具
A long narrow object with a perfectly straight side and labelled units of length. You hold it against a surface to check how long something is or to make lines that are perfectly straight.
Élise used a plastic rule to draw a straight line for her maths homework.
Élise 用一把塑膠直尺在數學作業上畫了一條直線。
use a rule + to-infinitive
The carpenter checked the length of the wooden board with a metal rule.
木匠用一把金屬直尺檢查了木板的長度。
Always use a clean rule when drawing diagrams for a science project.
畫科學專題的圖表時，務必使用乾淨的直尺。
Kasia's wooden rule has markings in both centimetres and inches.
Kasia 的木尺上有公分和英吋兩種刻度。
The art teacher asked everyone to bring a 30-centimetre rule to class.
美術老師要求每個人都帶一把三十公分的直尺到課堂上。
- ruler
the more common word in everyday English for this tool
- tape measure
a flexible tool for measuring curved or long surfaces
用法筆記
Also called a 'ruler'. More commonly 'ruler' in everyday speech; 'rule' sounds slightly more formal or technical.
rule — 動詞
- rulepresent simple I / you / we / they
- rules3rd person singular
- ruling-ing form
- ruledpast simple
1. To have the main power and authority over a country or group of people, making d
統治；治理
掌握國家或群體的管理權力
To have the main power and authority over a country or group of people, making decisions about how it is managed and run.
Queen Victoria ruled the British Empire for more than sixty years.
維多利亞女王統治大英帝國超過六十年。
rule + empire/country (transitive)
A small group of generals ruled the country after the revolution.
革命之後，一小群將軍統治著這個國家。
The dynasty that ruled from 1600 to 1800 built many famous palaces.
那個在 1600 年至 1800 年間統治的王朝建造了許多著名的宮殿。
King Felipe ruled his country for thirty-five years, always putting the people's needs first.
Felipe 國王統治他的國家長達三十五年，始終將人民的需求放在首位。
For centuries the Ottoman sultan ruled over a vast region in three continents.
數世紀以來，鄂圖曼蘇丹統治了橫跨三大洲的廣大地區。
- obey
to follow commands rather than give them
文法句型
rule + noun phrase
rule + over + noun phrase
用法筆記
Can be used transitively ('rule a country') or intransitively with 'over' ('rule over a country'). The intransitive form is slightly more formal. For managing a small group (a team, a company), 'run' or 'manage' is more natural than 'rule'.
常見錯誤
2. To act as the main force that shapes someone's actions, decisions, or attitudes,
主宰；支配
成為最主要影響因素
To act as the main force that shapes someone's actions, decisions, or attitudes, often in a powerful or controlling way.
In many families, practical concerns rule over personal wishes.
在許多家庭中，現實考量往往壓過個人意願。
rule over + abstract noun (intransitive with over)
Hana's passion for music rules every decision she makes about her career.
Hana 對音樂的熱情主宰了她職業生涯的每一個決定。
rule + decision/life (transitive)
Price is the factor that rules most people's choice of a new phone.
價格是多數人在選擇新手機時最主要的決定因素。
In that team, one senior player rules all the discussions about strategy.
在那個團隊裡，一名資深球員主導了所有關於策略的討論。
Fear of failure should not rule how you plan your future.
對失敗的恐懼不應該左右你規劃未來的方式。
- follow
to be guided by something rather than guiding it
文法句型
rule + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used with abstract subjects (emotions, concerns, factors) rather than people. 'Rule' in this sense suggests a controlling or dominating influence, not just any influence.
3. To make an official decision about something, especially in a court of law or by
裁決；裁定
官方做出決定或宣判
To make an official decision about something, especially in a court of law or by someone in a position of authority.
The judge ruled that the contract was not legally valid.
法官裁定該合約在法律上無效。
rule + that-clause for official decisions
The Supreme Court will rule on the case next Monday morning.
最高法院將於下週一上午對此案作出裁決。
rule + on + case/matter
After hearing both sides, the committee ruled in favour of the workers.
在聽取雙方陳述後，委員會裁定工人一方勝訴。
The court ruled that the law violated the constitution.
法院裁定該法律違反憲法。
The umpire ruled the runner safe at second base during the baseball game.
裁判裁定二壘上的跑者安全上壘。
- decide
more general; does not imply formal or legal authority
- adjudicate
formal legal term; implies judging a dispute
- declare
focuses on the public announcement of the decision
文法句型
rule + that-clause
rule + on + noun
rule + against/in favour of + noun
用法筆記
Most common in legal contexts (courts, judges) and sports (referees, umpires). The transitive pattern 'rule + that-clause' is the most frequent construction. 'Rule on' is used for the topic of the decision.
4. To create a straight mark on paper by guiding a pen or pencil along the side of
用尺畫
用直尺畫出直線
To create a straight mark on paper by guiding a pen or pencil along the side of a ruler or a similar flat tool.
Anya carefully ruled the margins on her notebook before starting to write.
Anya 在開始寫字之前，先用直尺在本子上畫好頁邊線。
rule + margins/lines (object = the line)
The teacher asked the students to rule a straight line under the title.
老師要求學生在標題下方用直尺畫一條直線。
Hugo used a ruler to rule neat lines for his bar chart.
Hugo 用直尺為他的長條圖畫出整齊的線條。
Before cutting, Valentina ruled a line down the centre of the paper.
在裁剪之前，Valentina 在紙張中央用直尺畫了一條線。
The architect ruled precise lines on the blueprint using a T-square.
建築師用 T 字尺在藍圖上畫出精確的線條。
- draw a line
the more common expression; does not specify the tool used
文法句型
rule + a line
用法筆記
More common in British English than American English. In the US, 'draw a line' is used instead. The past tense is 'ruled'.