一律
yīlù · HSK 4
without exception
⚖️ 一 (one) + 律 (law/rule) = one rule for all, no exceptions
一 means 'one' and 律 means 'law' or 'statute'. Together they mean everyone follows the same single rule — uniformly, without exception. Often used in formal contexts like policies applying 一律 to all members.
一 — single horizontal stroke
一 is one of the simplest pictographs in Chinese, depicting a single horizontal line to represent the number one. It has retained essentially the same form since oracle bone script over 3,000 years ago. By extension it also means 'first,' 'whole,' or 'same.'