I've been trying to nail down the difference between 規定 and 規則. Three
different dictionaries I checked define these both as some combination of
"rule", "regulation", or "provision." After checking a few example sentences,
I'm starting to get a feel for the differences, but I'm having trouble
quantifying them.

The example sentences for 規定 all seem to refer to some sort of stronger or
more official rule/ruling, such as:

小麦の輸入禁止が法律で規定された。 A wheat import ban was enacted.

医者は彼女に厳しい規定食を勧めた。 The doctor ordered her to go on a strict diet.

Whereas 規則 seems to to a less-specific rule:

君は規則を破った。 You broke the rule.

彼らは規則を知らない。 They are ignorant of the rules.

Am I on the right track? Is there a better way to think about the differences
of these words? Finally, are they both even in common usage?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-03T00:19:41.463
36373
2016-08-02T18:40:13.430
1292
question
word-choice meaning nuances
With 規則 and 規定, where do you draw the line?
I think the answer is right there in your examples.

You've used 規定 as a verb with する, but not 規則.「規則する」 isn't used. But as you've
already noted, there is some overlap in meaning between 規定・規則.

It may help to think of it this way:

> 規定 - 「規」を定めること・定められた「規」

  * deciding upon a rule ・ a rule which has been decided

> 規則 - 定められた「規」

  * a rule which has been decided
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-03T02:04:07.673
36376
2016-07-03T02:04:07.673
7055
36373
answer
There's a huge overlap between them, but if I'm going to explain the
difference...

規則 is something _you_ may follow or otherwise violate. This is easy.

Otoh, a bit less common 規定 is just the way an organization is supposed to do
its job. So, for example, when we talk about pay rules, it's 給与規程, not 給与規則.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-03T09:48:40.723
36389
2016-07-03T18:02:57.003
2016-07-03T18:02:57.003
7944
13840
36373
answer