DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

下不為例

简下不为例 · 繁下不為例

Mandarin · pinyin xià bù wéi lì

not to be repeated
not to be taken as a precedent
just this once

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Characters in this entry

下: xià · under, underneath, below; down; inferior; bring down
不: bù · no, not; un-; negative prefix
為: Look up this written character
例: lì · precedent, example; regulation
为: wèi · do, handle, govern, act; be

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

4–4–2–4 · xia4 bu4 wei2 li4

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

下不為例 · find source passages ↗ · 下不为例 · find source passages ↗

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) not to be repeated; just this once

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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