rules and standards; norms; criteria
A formal yojijukugo referring to established rules, standards, or norms that serve as a basis for judgment or action. Often used in legal, ethical, or organizational contexts.
This organization needs clear rules and standards.
His actions go against the norms of society.
規範 is a more common word for 'norm' or 'standard', while 規矩準縄 is a formal, literary yojijukugo with a similar meaning.
基準 is a general term for 'standard' or 'criterion', used in everyday contexts, whereas 規矩準縄 is more formal and often used in abstract or ethical discussions.
A yojijukugo composed of four characters: 規 (rule), 矩 (carpenter's square, standard), 準 (standard, norm), and 縄 (rope, measure). Together they metaphorically refer to tools for measurement, hence 'rules and standards'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase is used in classical Chinese texts.