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B1 adjective 11 min read

不合规

bù hé guī

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 不合规 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 不合规 in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word '不合规' (bù hé guī) might seem complex, but you can understand it as a way of saying 'not okay' or 'wrong' in a very formal setting, like at a bank or in an office. Think of it as three parts: '不' (not), '合' (match), and '规' (rule). So, it means 'not matching the rule.' At this level, you don't need to use it yourself often, but you might see it on a sign or a form if you make a mistake. For example, if you fill out a form with a blue pen instead of a black pen, someone might say it is '不合规.' It is a serious-sounding word, but it just means you didn't follow the specific instructions. Just remember 'No match rule' and you will understand the basic idea. It is the opposite of 'doing it right' according to a paper or a book of rules. You can compare it to '不对' (not correct), but '不合规' is only for official rules, not for simple facts like 1+1=3.

For A2 learners, '不合规' is an important word to recognize if you are living or working in a Chinese-speaking environment. It is an adjective that describes an action or a thing that fails to follow a specific regulation. You will mostly hear it in professional situations. For instance, if you are at the airport and your suitcase is too heavy, the weight is '不合规' (non-compliant with the rules). If you are at a company and you try to buy something without a receipt, the manager might say that is '不合规.' It is a more formal way to say '违规' (wéi guī), which also means breaking rules. A good way to remember it is that '合' means 'to fit,' and '规' means 'rule.' If something doesn't 'fit' the 'rule,' it is '不合规.' When you use it, you can say '这不合规' (This is non-compliant). It helps you sound more professional than just saying '这不行' (This won't do) or '这不好' (This is not good). It shows you understand that there are specific procedures to follow.

At the B1 level, you should be able to use '不合规' to describe procedural errors and understand its nuance compared to '违法' (illegal). '不合规' is specifically about compliance with regulations, standards, or internal policies. It is a key term in 'Business Chinese.' When you are discussing a project or a report, you might use it to point out that certain steps were skipped. For example, '这个流程不合规' (This process is non-compliant). It is often used with '是...的' structure, as in '这种做法是不合规的.' You should also recognize its noun-like usage in phrases like '整改不合规项' (rectify non-compliant items). At this level, you are moving beyond simple 'right and wrong' and starting to talk about 'standards and compliance.' Using this word correctly shows a higher level of social and professional awareness. It is also common in news reports about company audits or government inspections. If a factory is closed because it didn't follow environmental rules, the news will say it was '不合规.'

B2 learners should master '不合规' in complex sentences and understand its role in corporate governance and administrative law. It is frequently used in discussions about 'Risk Management' (风险管理) and 'Audit' (审计). You should be able to differentiate it from '不规范' (non-standard) and '不合理' (unreasonable). While '不规范' suggests a lack of professional polish, '不合规' implies a clear violation of a documented requirement. For example, '格式不规范' (the format is sloppy) vs '操作不合规' (the operation violated safety protocols). You will often see it in the context of '合规性审查' (compliance review). In a professional debate, you might say, '虽然这能提高效率，但从合规角度来看，这是不合规的' (Although this can improve efficiency, from a compliance perspective, it is non-compliant). This demonstrates your ability to weigh practical benefits against regulatory requirements. You should also be familiar with the phrase '严重不合规' (seriously non-compliant) and how it can lead to '法律责任' (legal liability).

At the C1 level, you should have a comprehensive grasp of '不合规' within the broader landscape of Chinese regulatory frameworks and institutional culture. You should understand how it relates to the concept of 'Rule of Law' (法治) versus 'Rule by Regulations.' In the C1 context, '不合规' is not just a label but a trigger for complex legal and administrative processes. You might analyze case studies where '不合规' behavior led to systemic financial risks. You should be able to use the term in high-level reports, such as: '鉴于该行为严重不合规且存在潜在法律风险，建议立即启动整改程序' (Given that this behavior is seriously non-compliant and carries potential legal risks, it is recommended to initiate rectification procedures immediately). You should also understand the cultural shift in China from a reliance on personal relationships (关系) to a more rigid 'compliance-first' culture in major industries. The term '不合规' is at the heart of this transition. You can discuss the nuances between 'technical non-compliance' and 'intentional violation' (故意违规).

For C2 learners, '不合规' is a term used with precision in legal scholarship, high-level policy analysis, and corporate strategy. You should be able to discuss the philosophical implications of 'compliance' in a Chinese context, where '规' (rules) can range from internal company bylaws to national administrative codes. You can explore how '不合规' is defined and contested in courtrooms or during international trade arbitrations. At this level, you might encounter the term in the context of 'ESG' (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting, where '不合规' in social responsibility can damage a brand's global reputation. You should be comfortable using the term in sophisticated arguments about the balance between innovation and regulation, such as: '监管部门在界定新兴产业的不合规行为时，应兼顾审慎监管与鼓励创新的原则' (Regulatory authorities, when defining non-compliant behavior in emerging industries, should balance the principles of prudent supervision and the encouragement of innovation). You understand that '不合规' is a dynamic category that evolves with the legal landscape.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

不合规 in 30 Seconds

不合规 means non-compliant or not fitting established rules, primarily used in formal, professional, and corporate environments in China.
It differs from 'illegal' (违法) by focusing on administrative and procedural standards rather than just national criminal laws.
Commonly found in audit reports, banking, environmental checks, and official rejections of documents or applications.
The term is an adjective often paired with '行为' (behavior), '操作' (operation), or used in the '是...的' structure.

The Chinese term 不合规 (bù hé guī) is a formal adjective primarily used in professional, legal, and administrative contexts to describe actions, documents, or behaviors that fail to meet established standards or regulations. To understand this word deeply, one must look at its constituent characters. The first character, 不 (bù), is the standard negation meaning 'not.' The second, 合 (hé), means 'to fit,' 'to match,' or 'to suit.' The third, 规 (guī), refers to 'rules,' 'regulations,' or 'standards.' Historically, 规 represented a compass used for drawing circles, symbolizing the tool that sets the standard for a perfect shape. Therefore, 不合规 literally translates to 'not fitting the standard set by the compass.'

Corporate Governance: In the modern Chinese business world, this term is ubiquitous. It is the standard way to describe a lack of compliance with internal company policies or external industry regulations. For example, if a financial report lacks the necessary signatures, it is deemed 不合规.

这家公司的财务报表明显不合规，需要重新审计。(This company's financial statements are clearly non-compliant and require a re-audit.)

The usage of 不合规 has surged in recent years due to the Chinese government's increasing focus on 'Compliance Management' (合规管理). It is less about moral 'wrongness' and more about technical 'non-conformity.' While 'illegal' (不合法) implies a violation of the national law that could lead to criminal charges, 不合规 often refers to the violation of administrative codes, industry standards, or specific procedural requirements. It is a word that carries the weight of professional scrutiny.

Regulatory Context: When a bank detects a transaction that doesn't follow anti-money laundering protocols, the transaction is flagged as 不合规. This triggers a series of corrective actions rather than an immediate criminal investigation, though one may lead to the other.

如果你的申请材料不合规，系统会自动驳回。(If your application materials are non-compliant, the system will automatically reject them.)

Furthermore, the term is frequently used in environmental inspections, food safety checks, and construction quality control. If a factory's waste disposal system does not meet the national standard, it is categorized as 不合规. This status requires the entity to perform 'rectification' (整改) to bring the operation back into alignment with the rules. It is a word of correction and oversight.

Daily Professional Life: In an office setting, a manager might tell an employee that their expense claim is 不合规 because it lacks a proper receipt (fapiao). This indicates a procedural error rather than an accusation of theft.

这种报销方式是不合规的，我们不能受理。(This method of reimbursement is non-compliant; we cannot process it.)

任何不合规的行为都将受到处罚。(Any non-compliant behavior will be punished.)

Using 不合规 correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical role as an adjective that often functions as a predicate. It is frequently preceded by adverbs of degree like 非常 (very), 明显 (clearly), or 严重 (seriously). Because it is a formal term, it is rarely used in casual slang but is the backbone of business Chinese. The most common structure is '[Subject] + [Adverb] + 不合规,' or using it as a modifier: '[不合规] + 的 + [Noun].'

Predicate Usage: When the word follows the subject directly (often with '是...的'), it describes the state of an action or object. For example: '你的操作是不合规的' (Your operation is non-compliant).

经检查，该工厂的排污设备严重不合规。(Upon inspection, the factory's sewage disposal equipment is seriously non-compliant.)

One of the nuances of 不合规 is that it identifies a gap between 'what is' and 'what should be' according to a specific document or rulebook. If you are pointing out a mistake in a professional setting, saying '这不对' (This is wrong) might sound too personal or blunt. Saying '这不合规' shifts the focus to the rules, making the critique objective and professional. It implies that the speaker is not the one judging, but the regulations are.

Attributive Usage: When used before a noun, it characterizes the nature of that noun. Common pairings include '不合规行为' (non-compliant behavior) and '不合规产品' (non-compliant products).

我们必须严厉打击市场上的不合规贷款。(We must severely crack down on non-compliant loans in the market.)

Another important aspect is the consequence associated with the word. In Chinese administrative culture, being labeled 不合规 usually leads to a 'rectification' (整改) period. Therefore, the word is often found in sentences discussing improvements or corrections. It is a catalyst for change within a system. You might hear: '针对不合规问题，我们制定了整改计划' (In response to non-compliance issues, we have developed a rectification plan).

Comparative Usage: You can compare the level of non-compliance. '这次的违规比上次更不合规' is technically possible but rare; usually, people just use '严重' (serious) to quantify it.

虽然他的动机是好的，但程序上仍然不合规。(Although his intentions were good, it was still non-compliant procedurally.)

为了避免不合规风险，我们咨询了法律顾问。(To avoid non-compliance risks, we consulted legal counsel.)

You will encounter 不合规 in various professional spheres in China. It is a staple of the 'News Broadcast' (新闻联播) style of reporting, especially when the government announces crackdowns on certain industries. If you work in a Chinese company, especially in departments like HR, Finance, or Legal, you will hear this word daily during meetings and internal audits. It is the language of the 'Compliance Officer' (合规官).

Banking and Finance: In the financial sector, 'compliance' is a massive topic. You will hear about '不合规经营' (non-compliant operations) when banks are fined for lending money to unqualified borrowers or failing to verify identities.

银保监会近日查处了一批不合规的信贷业务。(The CBIRC recently investigated a batch of non-compliant credit businesses.)

In the tech industry, especially with the recent 'Platform Economy' (平台经济) regulations, you will hear this word regarding data privacy and anti-monopoly measures. If an app collects too much user data without consent, it is publicly shamed as 不合规 in official notices. This word serves as a warning to the public and a directive to the company. It is also common in the construction industry, where '不合规建筑' (non-compliant buildings) refers to structures that violate safety codes or zoning laws.

Environmental Protection: Environmental inspectors use this word to describe factories that bypass filters or dump waste illegally. '不合规排放' (non-compliant discharge) is a serious charge that leads to heavy fines.

这间工厂因为不合规排污被停业整顿了。(This factory was ordered to suspend operations for rectification due to non-compliant sewage discharge.)

In higher education and research, '不合规' is used to describe academic misconduct or the improper use of research funds. If a professor uses a grant to buy personal items, the audit will label those expenses 不合规. It is also heard in the medical field regarding '不合规医疗行为' (non-compliant medical practices), such as performing surgeries without proper certification or using unapproved drugs.

E-commerce: On platforms like Taobao or JD.com, sellers who use fake reviews or misleading advertisements are flagged for '不合规操作' (non-compliant operations), leading to their shops being closed.

该网店因多次不合规促销被平台封禁。(The online store was banned by the platform due to repeated non-compliant promotions.)

审计发现，该公司存在多处不合规的财务支出。(The audit found several non-compliant financial expenditures in the company.)

The most frequent mistake learners make with 不合规 is confusing it with other terms that mean 'incorrect' or 'wrong.' While 不合规 is a type of wrongness, it is specifically about procedural and regulatory alignment. Using it to describe a simple math error or a social faux pas would sound very strange. You wouldn't say 'It's non-compliant to eat with your hands' in a casual setting; you would say 'It's not polite' (不礼貌) or 'It's not appropriate' (不合适).

不合规 vs. 不合法 (Non-compliant vs. Illegal): This is the most critical distinction. '不合法' (bù hé fǎ) means something violates the national law (law = 法). '不合规' (bù hé guī) means something violates specific rules or regulations (rules = 规). An action can be '合规' (compliant with company rules) but '不合法' (illegal under national law), though usually, it's the other way around: a minor procedural error is '不合规' but not necessarily 'illegal.'

错误：他偷了东西，这是不合规的。 (Incorrect: He stole something, that is non-compliant.)
正确：他偷了东西，这是违法的。 (Correct: He stole something, that is illegal.)

Another mistake is confusing 不合规 with 不合身 (not fitting the body/clothes) or 不合心意 (not to one's liking). The '合' (fit) in 不合规 refers strictly to fitting a standard or rule. Furthermore, learners often forget the '的' when using it as a predicate. Saying '你的报告不合规' is acceptable in speech, but '你的报告是不合规的' is more standard and clear in writing.

不合规 vs. 不合适 (Non-compliant vs. Inappropriate): '不合适' (bù hé shì) is subjective and relates to social fit, personality, or timing. '不合规' is objective and relates to written rules. You might say a person is '不合适' for a job because of their personality, but you say their application is '不合规' because they didn't include a diploma.

错误：这件衣服穿在你身上太不合规了。 (Incorrect: This dress is too non-compliant on you.)
正确：这件衣服穿在你身上太不合适了。 (Correct: This dress is too inappropriate/doesn't suit you.)

Finally, avoid using 不合规 as a verb. It is an adjective. You cannot '不合规' something. You can '违反规定' (violate regulations - verb phrase) or '存在不合规行为' (have non-compliant behavior). Learners sometimes try to say '他不合规了规则,' which is grammatically impossible. You must say '他的行为不合规' (His behavior is non-compliant) or '他违反了规定' (He violated the rules).

Semantic Range: Do not confuse '不合规' with '不合理' (unreasonable). A rule itself might be '不合理' (unreasonable), but the act of breaking it is '不合规' (non-compliant). One is a judgment of the rule's quality; the other is a judgment of the action's adherence to the rule.

虽然这个规定不合理，但你现在的做法确实不合规。(Although this regulation is unreasonable, your current practice is indeed non-compliant.)

审计师指出，报销单据的日期不合规。(The auditor pointed out that the dates on the reimbursement documents are non-compliant.)

When you want to describe something that doesn't follow the rules, 不合规 is your go-to professional term, but there are several alternatives depending on the severity and the context. Understanding these nuances will make your Chinese sound more natural and precise. The most common related words are 违规, 违章, 违法, and 不符合规定.

违规 (wéi guī): Definition: To violate regulations. While '不合规' is an adjective describing a state, '违规' is often used as a verb or a noun (violation). It sounds slightly more active and accusatory than the descriptive '不合规'.
违章 (wéi zhāng): Definition: To break rules/regulations, specifically used for traffic or construction. '违章停车' (illegal parking) is a standard phrase. You wouldn't say '不合规停车'.

他的行为属于严重的违规，将被取消比赛资格。(His behavior is a serious violation; he will be disqualified from the competition.)

For a more formal and descriptive tone, you can use the phrase 不符合规定 (bù fú hé guī dìng). This literally means 'does not conform to the regulations.' It is essentially the long-form version of 不合规 and is very common in official documents and rejection letters. It sounds slightly more explanatory and less like a label.

违法 (wéi fǎ): Definition: Illegal. This is the 'big brother' of '不合规'. If '不合规' is a foul in a game, '违法' is a crime in society. Use this only when actual laws (statutes) are broken.
不规范 (bù guī fàn): Definition: Non-standard or irregular. This is 'lighter' than '不合规'. It implies that while no strict rule was broken, the way things were done doesn't follow best practices or standard conventions. For example, '格式不规范' (non-standard format).

你的论文格式有些不规范，请按照模板修改。(Your thesis format is a bit non-standard; please modify it according to the template.)

In some contexts, especially regarding technical specs, you might hear 达不到标准 (dá bù dào biāo zhǔn), which means 'cannot reach the standard.' This is common in manufacturing and engineering. If a piece of steel isn't strong enough, it's 不达标 (not up to standard), which is a specific type of 不合规.

越权 (yuè quán): Definition: Exceeding one's authority. This is a specific type of non-compliance where an official or manager does something they don't have the right to do. It is often described as '不合规的越权行为'.

我们严禁任何不符合规定的私人交易。(We strictly forbid any private transactions that do not conform to regulations.)

这些产品因为质量不达标而被退回。(These products were returned because their quality was not up to standard.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '规' (gui) consists of '夫' (man) and '见' (see) in its simplified form, but the ancient form represented a tool. In Chinese culture, '规矩' (compass and square) is the foundational metaphor for all order and morality.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /buː hə rweɪ/

US /bu hə gweɪ/

Primary stress is on the third syllable 'guī' as it defines the category of the word.

Rhymes With

规 (guī) rhymes with: 飞 (fēi), 追 (zhuī), 堆 (duī), 推 (tuī), 归 (guī), 灰 (huī), 亏 (kuī), 吹 (chuī)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'gui' as 'goo-ee' instead of 'gway'.
Getting the tones wrong, especially making 'he' a third tone instead of second.
Forgetting the 'u' sound in 'gui' entirely.
Pronouncing 'bu' as 'boo' without the sharp falling tone.
Confusing 'he' (second tone) with 'he' (fourth tone, meaning 'and').

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The characters are relatively common, but the context is formal.

Writing 4/5

Writing '规' and '合' correctly requires practice, and using it in formal syntax is tricky.

Speaking 3/5

Tones are manageable but must be precise to sound professional.

Listening 3/5

Common in news and business meetings.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

不符合规定规则操作

Learn Next

整改审计法律责任监管风险管理

Advanced

合规官内控体系违约责任行政处罚

Grammar to Know

Negation with '不'

不合规 (not compliant), 不合法 (not legal).

The '是...的' structure for description

这种行为是不合规的。

Adverbs of degree modifying adjectives

非常不合规, 严重不合规.

Attributive '的' connecting adjective and noun

不合规的操作.

Cause and effect with '因为...所以...'

因为程序不合规，所以申请被驳回了。

Examples by Level

这样做是不合规的。

Doing it this way is non-compliant.

Uses the '是...的' structure for emphasis.

你的照片不合规。

Your photo is non-compliant (wrong size or type).

Simple subject + adjective structure.

表格填写不合规。

The form was filled out non-compliantly.

Subject (form filling) + adjective.

这不合规，请修改。

This is non-compliant; please modify it.

Imperative sentence following the adjective.

这个操作不合规。

This operation is non-compliant.

Demonstrative '这个' + noun + adjective.

他的衣服不合规。

His clothes are non-compliant (e.g., wrong uniform).

Possessive '他的' + noun + adjective.

这里不合规，不能进。

This place is non-compliant; you can't enter.

Location + adjective + prohibition.

不合规的行为要受罚。

Non-compliant behavior will be punished.

Adjective + '的' modifying a noun.

你的报销单据不合规，不能通过。

Your reimbursement documents are non-compliant and cannot pass.

Compound sentence showing cause and effect.

这种产品因为不合规被下架了。

This product was taken off the shelves because it was non-compliant.

Passive structure using '因为' and '被'.

经理说我们的流程不合规。

The manager said our process is non-compliant.

Reported speech.

请不要做任何不合规的事情。

Please do not do anything non-compliant.

Polite prohibition '请不要'.

这个建筑是不合规的，必须拆除。

This building is non-compliant and must be demolished.

Modal verb '必须' for necessity.

他因为不合规操作被开除了。

He was fired for non-compliant operation.

Cause '因为' + result '被' (passive).

我们需要检查有没有不合规的地方。

We need to check if there are any non-compliant areas.

Verb '检查' followed by a question-like clause.

这种药是不合规的，不能卖。

This medicine is non-compliant and cannot be sold.

Prohibition '不能'.

审计发现该公司的财务操作严重不合规。

The audit found that the company's financial operations were seriously non-compliant.

Adverb '严重' modifying the adjective.

任何不合规的贷款申请都将被拒绝。

Any non-compliant loan application will be rejected.

Future passive '将被'.

我们要确保所有的生产环节都符合规定，不能不合规。

We must ensure all production stages meet regulations and are not non-compliant.

Contrast between '符合规定' and '不合规'.

这种不合规的行为损害了公司的名誉。

This non-compliant behavior damaged the company's reputation.

Subject (behavior) + verb (damage) + object (reputation).

为了防止不合规，我们需要加强内部审计。

To prevent non-compliance, we need to strengthen internal auditing.

Purpose clause '为了'.

他承认自己的做法确实不合规。

He admitted that his practice was indeed non-compliant.

Verb '承认' with a clause as an object.

如果不合规，我们将面临巨额罚款。

If non-compliant, we will face huge fines.

Conditional '如果'.

系统显示您的登录方式不合规。

The system shows that your login method is non-compliant.

Subject (system) + verb (show) + clause.

监管部门对不合规的互联网金融平台进行了整顿。

The regulatory department rectified non-compliant internet finance platforms.

Prepositional phrase '对...进行了'.

该项目的招标过程被举报存在不合规现象。

The bidding process of the project was reported to have non-compliant phenomena.

Passive '被' + verb '举报' + clause.

企业应当建立健全合规管理体系，杜绝不合规行为。

Enterprises should establish a sound compliance management system to eliminate non-compliant behavior.

Modal verb '应当' for formal recommendation.

由于程序不合规，该项决议被判定无效。

Due to non-compliant procedures, the resolution was judged invalid.

Cause '由于' + result.

我们要严厉打击那些不合规的排污企业。

We must severely crack down on those non-compliant polluting enterprises.

Verb '打击' + specific object.

审计报告指出，部分资金的使用存在不合规问题。

The audit report pointed out that the use of some funds involves non-compliance issues.

Verb '指出' + complex object clause.

虽然操作上有些不合规，但并没有造成实际损失。

Although there was some non-compliance in the operation, it did not cause actual losses.

Concession '虽然...但...'.

合规官的主要职责是识别并纠正不合规风险。

The main responsibility of a compliance officer is to identify and correct non-compliance risks.

Subject '职责' + verb '是' + infinitive-like nouns.

在金融监管日益严格的背景下，不合规的成本越来越高。

In the context of increasingly strict financial regulation, the cost of non-compliance is getting higher and higher.

Complex prepositional phrase '在...背景下'.

该行为被认定为严重不合规，触犯了行业准则。

The behavior was identified as seriously non-compliant and violated industry standards.

Resultative '被认定为'.

企业若想长久发展，必须摒弃任何不合规的短期获利行为。

If an enterprise wants long-term development, it must abandon any non-compliant short-term profit-seeking behaviors.

Conditional '若...必须...'.

通过对不合规案例的深入分析，我们可以总结出监管漏洞。

Through in-depth analysis of non-compliant cases, we can summarize regulatory loopholes.

Instrumental '通过对...'.

法律专家认为，该合同条款存在明显的不合规之处。

Legal experts believe that there are obvious non-compliant points in the contract clauses.

Formal noun phrase '不合规之处'.

这种不合规的关联交易不仅损害了股东利益，也扰乱了市场秩序。

This non-compliant related-party transaction not only damaged shareholder interests but also disrupted market order.

Correlative '不仅...也...'.

监管层正考虑对此类不合规行为采取更加严厉的惩罚措施。

Regulators are considering taking more severe punitive measures against such non-compliant behavior.

Progressive aspect '正考虑'.

在数字化转型过程中，数据处理的不合规风险不容忽视。

In the process of digital transformation, the non-compliance risks of data processing cannot be ignored.

Formal negative '不容忽视'.

在全球化贸易体系中，界定不合规行为往往涉及复杂的法律冲突与主权考量。

In the global trade system, defining non-compliant behavior often involves complex legal conflicts and sovereignty considerations.

Sophisticated subject including a gerund-like phrase.

该机构因系统性不合规而面临监管机构的全面调查与重罚。

The institution is facing a comprehensive investigation and heavy penalties from regulatory authorities due to systemic non-compliance.

Causal '因...而...'.

对不合规行为的零容忍态度，是构建现代化企业治理结构的基石。

A zero-tolerance attitude toward non-compliant behavior is the cornerstone of building a modern corporate governance structure.

Abstract noun phrase as a subject.

在某些情况下，不合规行为可能是由于对新颁布法规的理解偏差所致。

In some cases, non-compliant behavior may be caused by a misunderstanding of newly promulgated regulations.

Formal '由于...所致' structure.

监管科技的兴起，旨在通过自动化手段实时监测并预警不合规风险。

The rise of RegTech aims to monitor and warn of non-compliance risks in real-time through automated means.

Purpose '旨在' + complex verb phrases.

不合规的影子银行活动曾一度对国家的金融稳定构成严重威胁。

Non-compliant shadow banking activities once posed a serious threat to the country's financial stability.

Historical '曾一度' + verb '构成'.

法律的滞后性有时会导致某些创新行为在现有框架下被判定为不合规。

The lag of the law sometimes leads to certain innovative behaviors being judged as non-compliant under the existing framework.

Causative '导致' + passive '被判定为'.

我们必须在鼓励市场活力与防范不合规风险之间寻求微妙的平衡。

We must seek a delicate balance between encouraging market vitality and preventing non-compliance risks.

Prepositional '在...之间寻求平衡'.

Common Collocations

严重不合规

不合规行为

不合规操作

不合规项

排查不合规

整改不合规

不合规经营

明显不合规

程序不合规

存在不合规

Common Phrases

合规管理

— Compliance management. The system within a company to ensure rules are followed.

公司加强了合规管理体系。

自查自纠

— Self-inspection and self-correction. Often used to find non-compliance early.

各部门要开展不合规行为的自查自纠。

零容忍

— Zero tolerance. Usually used with non-compliant behavior.

我们对不合规行为实行零容忍。

整改通知书

— Rectification notice. A document issued when non-compliance is found.

环保局向工厂发出了不合规整改通知书。

行业准则

— Industry standards. The rules that a practice might be '不合规' against.

这种做法违背了行业准则。

内部控制

— Internal control. Systems to prevent non-compliance within an organization.

强有力的内部控制可以减少不合规。

风险预警

— Risk early warning. Detecting potential non-compliance before it happens.

系统发出了不合规风险预警。

违规成本

— Cost of violation. The penalty or loss caused by non-compliance.

我们要提高企业的违规成本。

审计发现

— Audit findings. Often leads to a list of non-compliant items.

审计发现中包括多项不合规支出。

准入条件

— Entry requirements. If not met, the application is '不合规'.

你的资质不符合准入条件，属于不合规。

Often Confused With

不合规 vs 不合法

Illegal (against the law) vs. Non-compliant (against rules/regulations).

不合规 vs 不合适

Inappropriate (social/personal) vs. Non-compliant (procedural).

不合规 vs 不合理

Unreasonable (logical/fairness) vs. Non-compliant (rule-based).

Idioms & Expressions

"无规矩不成方圆"

— Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. Literally, without a compass and square, you can't make circles and squares.

公司必须有规矩，否则大家都做不合规的事。

Literary/Common

"循规蹈矩"

— To follow the rules strictly. The opposite of '不合规'.

他一向循规蹈矩，绝不会做不合规的事。

Neutral

"明知故犯"

— To violate rules intentionally while knowing they exist.

他在明知不合规的情况下仍然这样做，是明知故犯。

Negative

"各行其是"

— Each goes their own way, ignoring the rules.

如果大家都各行其是，公司就会出现大量不合规现象。

Negative

"违法乱纪"

— To break laws and violate discipline. A stronger version of '不合规'.

这种违法乱纪的行为必须严惩。

Formal/Negative

"按章办事"

— To do things according to the rules. The antidote to '不合规'.

只要按章办事，就不会出现不合规的问题。

Neutral

"知法犯法"

— To break the law while being a law-enforcer or knowing the law well.

作为律师，你这是知法犯法，严重不合规。

Negative

"阳奉阴违"

— To feign compliance while secretly violating rules.

有些企业表面合规，实际阳奉阴违。

Negative

"钻空子"

— To exploit loopholes in regulations.

这种钻空子的行为在程序上是不合规的。

Informal/Negative

"绳之以法"

— To bring someone to justice for violations.

严重不合规且违法的人必将被绳之以法。

Formal

Easily Confused

不合规 vs 不合法

Both mean something is 'wrong' according to a standard.

'Illegal' means breaking the law of the land, while 'non-compliant' means breaking specific industry or company rules. You can be non-compliant without being a criminal.

报销没发票是不合规，偷税漏税是不合法。

不合规 vs 不规范

Both imply a lack of standard.

'Non-standard' is about style or quality; 'non-compliant' is about mandatory rules. A messy desk is '不规范'; dumping toxic waste is '不合规'.

你的排版不规范，但你的数据操作不合规。

不合规 vs 违章

Both refer to breaking rules.

'违章' is specifically used for traffic, construction, or specific administrative bylaws. '不合规' is broader and more corporate.

他在马路上违章停车，导致了交通不合规现象。

不合规 vs 不符合

Both mean 'not matching'.

'不符合' is a verb phrase requiring an object (e.g., 不符合要求); '不合规' is a standalone adjective.

他的表现不符合我们的期望，且操作不合规。

不合规 vs 不礼貌

Both refer to 'not following the way'.

'不礼貌' is social manners; '不合规' is professional rules.

对他大喊是不礼貌，但在会议中录音是不合规。

Sentence Patterns

[Noun] 不合规。

照片不合规。

[Noun] 是不合规的。

这种操作是不合规的。

因为 [Reason] 不合规，所以 [Result]。

因为程序不合规，所以合同无效。

针对 [Issue] 不合规问题，进行 [Action]。

针对财务不合规问题，进行全面审计。

在 [Context] 之下，[Subject] 存在不合规之处。

在新的法律框架之下，该行为存在不合规之处。

[Subject] 旨在纠正 [Noun] 中的系统性不合规。

本次检查旨在纠正供应链中的系统性不合规。

严厉打击 [Adjective] 不合规行为。

严厉打击各类不合规贷款行为。

[Subject] 被判定为 [Adverb] 不合规。

该申请被判定为严重不合规。

Word Family

Nouns

合规 (Compliance)

规定 (Regulation)

规则 (Rule)

规章 (Bylaws)

规矩 (Standard/Manners)

Verbs

符合 (To conform)

违反 (To violate)

规避 (To evade/circumvent)

规范 (To standardize)

Adjectives

合规的 (Compliant)

违规的 (Violating)

规范的 (Standardized)

正规的 (Formal/Regular)

审计 (Audit)

监管 (Supervision)

整改 (Rectification)

处罚 (Punishment)

风控 (Risk Control)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in professional and news contexts; rare in casual family talk.

Common Mistakes

Using '不合规' for a person being rude. → 他很不礼貌 (He is very impolite).
'不合规' is for rules and regulations, not social etiquette.
Saying '他不合规了规则' (He non-complianted the rules). → 他的行为不合规 (His behavior is non-compliant).
'不合规' is an adjective, not a verb. You cannot use it to take an object.
Confusing '不合规' with '不合身'. → 这件衣服不合身 (This clothing doesn't fit).
'合身' is for physical fit; '合规' is for regulatory fit.
Using '不合规' to mean a wrong math answer. → 答案不对 (The answer is wrong).
'不合规' implies a violation of a procedure, not a factual error.
Using '不合规' when you mean something is illegal. → 这是违法的 (This is illegal).
While often related, 'illegal' is a much stronger term involving national laws.

Tips

Use in Emails

When rejecting a proposal or report in a Chinese email, using '不合规' makes your rejection sound based on policy rather than personal opinion.

The '的' Particle

Always include '的' when using '不合规' as a predicate with '是' (e.g., 是不合规的) to ensure the sentence is grammatically complete.

Pair with '整改'

In business Chinese, '不合规' is almost always followed by '整改' (rectification). Learn them as a pair.

Banking Context

If you work in finance, '不合规' is one of the most important words you will learn. It covers everything from KYC failures to AML violations.

Tone Accuracy

Ensure 'hé' (合) is a clear rising tone. If you say it with a falling tone, it might be confused with 'hè' (to join in).

Formal Documents

In very formal legal documents, consider using '不符合相关规定' instead of the shorter '不合规' for maximum precision.

Social Credit

Understand that '不合规' behavior is often tracked in corporate social credit systems in China, affecting a company's reputation.

News Keywords

When watching Chinese financial news, listen for '不合规' to identify which companies are currently under investigation or being fined.

The Compass Image

Remember the 'gui' (规) is a compass. If the circle isn't round, it's 'bu he gui' (doesn't fit the compass).

Avoid Slang

Do not try to turn '不合规' into a slang word. It is a 'suit and tie' word and should remain in professional settings.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Bu' (No) + 'He' (Match) + 'Gui' (Great Rules). If it's 'No Match Great Rules,' it's non-compliant.

Visual Association

Imagine a square peg trying to fit into a circular hole (the compass 'gui'). It doesn't fit (bu he), so it's non-compliant.

Word Web

不合规审计罚款整改流程报告风险法律

Challenge

Try to find one thing in your office or home that doesn't follow a rule and label it '不合规' in your head today.

Word Origin

The phrase is a modern compound. '不' is an ancient negation. '合' dates back to oracle bone script, depicting a lid and a container. '规' originally meant a compass for circles.

Original meaning: Not fitting the standard set by the compass.

Sino-Tibetan (Mandarin Chinese).

Cultural Context

It is an objective term. Using it to describe a person's behavior is professional; using it to describe their character might be seen as overly cold or robotic.

In English, we use 'non-compliant' or 'against regulations.' 'Non-compliant' sounds slightly more technical, while 'against the rules' is more general. '不合规' bridges both.

The 'Ant Group' IPO suspension in 2020 was largely attributed to '不合规' issues regarding new lending regulations. The 'Double Reduction' policy in education targeted '不合规' tutoring centers. ISO standards are often translated in China as '合规标准'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Corporate Audit

发现不合规项
审计不合规
财务不合规
整改不合规之处

Environmental Inspection

不合规排污
排放不合规
环保不合规
不合规设施

Banking and Finance

不合规贷款
合规性审查
不合规经营
洗钱不合规

Human Resources

不合规招聘
合同不合规
社保不合规
加班不合规

Visa and Immigration

材料不合规
照片不合规
程序不合规
申请不合规

Conversation Starters

"你觉得这个流程是不是有点不合规？ (Do you think this process is a bit non-compliant?)"

"如果审计发现不合规，我们要怎么办？ (What should we do if the audit finds non-compliance?)"

"最近监管部门对不合规行为查得很严。 (Lately, regulators are checking non-compliant behavior very strictly.)"

"这篇报告里的数据来源好像不合规。 (The data source in this report seems non-compliant.)"

"为了避免不合规风险，我们是不是该请教一下法务？ (To avoid non-compliance risks, should we consult the legal department?)"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你在工作中遇到的不合规情况，以及你是如何处理的。 (Describe a non-compliant situation you encountered at work and how you handled it.)

你认为在某些情况下，为了效率而稍微'不合规'是可以接受的吗？为什么？ (Do you think in some cases, being slightly 'non-compliant' for efficiency is acceptable? Why?)

讨论一下合规管理对一个现代企业的重要性。 (Discuss the importance of compliance management for a modern enterprise.)

如果你的上司要求你做一件不合规的事，你会怎么做？ (If your boss asks you to do something non-compliant, what would you do?)

谈谈你对中国近年来加强行业合规监管的看法。 (Talk about your views on China's strengthening of industry compliance supervision in recent years.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is primarily an adjective meaning 'non-compliant.' However, in professional contexts like audits, it is often used as a noun to refer to a specific instance of non-compliance, such as '发现一个不合规' (found one non-compliance).

Generally, no. It is too formal. For social behavior, use '不礼貌' (impolite) or '不合规矩' (not following social norms/etiquette). '不合规' is strictly for formal rules and regulations.

You say '合规官' (hé guī guān) or '合规专员' (hé guī zhuān yuán). These professionals are responsible for preventing '不合规' behavior.

'违规' (wéi guī) is a verb/noun meaning 'to violate rules' or 'a violation.' '不合规' (bù hé guī) is an adjective describing the state of being non-compliant. They are often interchangeable, but '不合规' sounds more like a descriptive label from an auditor.

Yes, it always indicates a failure to meet a standard. However, it is a professional, objective negative rather than an emotional or moral one.

On its own, '不合规' usually leads to fines or internal punishment. However, if the non-compliance also constitutes '违法' (illegal) behavior, it can certainly lead to criminal charges.

You can say: '您的文件在程序上有些不合规，请按照规定修改。' (Your document is somewhat procedurally non-compliant; please modify it according to the regulations.)

'合规管理' (Compliance Management) is the corporate process of ensuring that all employees and operations follow both internal policies and external laws to avoid '不合规' risks.

It means 'seriously non-compliant.' This usually implies that the violation is significant enough to cause major risks, large fines, or the shutdown of a project.

No. For grammar, use '不规范' (non-standard) or '语法错误' (grammar error). '不合规' is for administrative or legal rules.