宗法zōngfǎ 1.〈旧时old〉以家族为中心,按血统远近区别亲疏的法则{patriarchal clan rules and regulations; rules of a clan in which closeness of relationship is determined by the order of blood lineage}: ～制度{patriarchal clan system}|～社会。{patriarchal society} 2.师法;效法{take as a model or example; model on; follow}: 他的字～柳体。{His handwriting is modelled on the calligraphic style of Liu Gongquan.}