潜规则 (qiánguīzé): unspoken rules

Meanings

1 unspoken rules
2 hidden rules of conduct (often referring to corrupt or coercive practices, e.g. demanding sexual favours or using guanxi to get ahead)

Characters

潜

Examples

这个行业有很多潜规则。

Zhège hángyè yǒu hěnduō qiánguīzé.

This industry has a lot of unspoken rules.

她拒绝接受潜规则。

Tā jùjué jiēshòu qiánguīzé.

She refused to play by the unspoken rules.

Tips

culture

The term was popularised by historian Wu Si (吴思) in his 2001 book 《潜规则：中国历史中的真实游戏》. In post-2000s usage it carries strongly negative connotations — most often the casting-couch sense in entertainment, or kickbacks and favouritism in business.

register

Common in news and gossip; in everyday conversation 走后门 (zǒu hòumén, 'go through the back door') covers similar ground for the favours/bribery sense.