TSUMUGU · B1 · 字
則
則 ＝ 貝 ＋ 刂
ㄗㄜˊ · zé
noun/conj — a rule; (then) in that case
字源 FORM — what the parts do
刂義the knife, standing at the right — to carve, to cut even
A cowrie (貝) and a knife (刂): the blade carves the valued thing to an even measure — a standard, a rule. From the fixed rule comes the conjunction then: meet the condition, and so it follows. 則 itself lends its sound to 側、測、廁.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
刀（刂）對著貝（貝）一刀刀刻平——量出一條規矩。
The knife (刂) cuts the cowrie (貝) level, stroke by stroke — measuring out a rule.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)規則、法則— a rule, a norm常用
→準則— a standard, a criterion
⇒否則、然則— otherwise; then, in that case常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension