principle
Definitions
A fundamental rule or belief that guides behavior or reasoning
原则，准则
A basic law or assumption underlying how something works
原理，定律（事物运作的基本规律）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedFrom Latin principium = prim- (first) + -cip- (a form of capere, 'to take') = 'a beginning, a first thing.' A principle is the starting point you reason from — the first, foundational truth. Same Latin source as principal, but English split the jobs: principle settled on 'fundamental rule,' principal on 'first / chief.'
Root prim still carries 18 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.guiding principle指导原则
- 2.in principle原则上
- 3.on principle出于原则
- 4.moral principle道德原则
Example Sentences
- 1.
She refused to lie; it was a matter of principle.
- 2.
The engine works on a simple physical principle.
- 3.
In principle, the plan should work.
Easily Confused
principle vs principal — the most-confused pair in English. principle is ALWAYS a noun meaning a rule or belief: a moral principle, in principle. principal is the main one / a school head / a loan's original amount, and is usually an adjective. Hook: a princip-LE is a ruLE; the princip-AL is your school pAL.