Usage patterns 〈 事こと 〉 は 法ほう 則そく に 従したが う (something) follows a law/principle
This phenomenon follows the laws of physics.
法ほう 則そく を 発はっ 見けん する to discover a law/principle
Newton discovered the law of universal gravitation.
法ほう 則そく が 成な り 立た つ a law/principle holds true
In this case, that law doesn't hold true.
〈 事こと 〉 に 法ほう 則そく がある there is a law/pattern governing (something)
There is a certain law governing the movements of nature.
Kanji 方 direction, person, alternative Related words 法律 is a statutory law enacted by a government, while 法則 is a natural or logical principle with no legal authority.
規則 is a concrete, often man-made rule specific to an organization, whereas 法則 describes a fundamental, universal principle.
原理 emphasizes the underlying fundamental cause or basis of something, while 法則 describes the observable regularity or rule that follows from it.
法則 is the general word for a scientific or social 'law', while 摂理 refers to a deeper, often philosophical or religious sense of underlying order.
Written forms 法ほう 則そく Usage 100%
Standard kanji form; high-frequency in news and general use.
方ほう 則そく Usage <1%
Rare variant; 法 is the normal character for 'law' in this word.
Etymology Compound of 法 (law, method) and 則 (rule, norm). The combination has been used to translate Western concepts of scientific and logical laws since the Meiji period.
Report an issue with this page
Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
