general rule; common rule; common provisions
Refers to a rule or provision that applies generally, often in legal, organizational, or procedural contexts.
この法律の通則には、基本的な定義が書かれている。
The general provisions of this law contain the basic definitions.
通則として、会議は毎週月曜日に開かれる。
As a general rule, the meeting is held every Monday.
Compound of 通 (つう, 'pass through, common') and 則 (そく, 'rule, law'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning 'general rule'.