<p>My understanding is that 套 is short for 套用 here, meaning "apply mechanically".</p>

<p>Basically, the author conveys there isn't such a rule/principle that could work for all the circumstances, so that we don't have to worry once applying it.</p>

<p>With that in mind, I gather you should be able to wording it much better than I do as an English native. </p>

<p>This is my shot:
(there is) absolutely no rule/principle fixing(or being applied) here, so we don't have to worry about it any more. </p>

<p>On top of that, if the sentence is written as 绝对没有一个规则<strong>被套用</strong>在这里, would it be more understandable to you? In fact, it's a passive voice sentence with some omissions. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T10:45:03.903Z
2017-09-04T13:11:08.293Z
2017-09-04T13:11:08.293Z
dan
<p>In this context, '套' means &quot;restrict&quot; or &quot;set&quot;</p>
<ul>
<li>规则(rule) is a form of <strong>restriction</strong></li>
<li>规则(rules) are being <strong>set</strong> by people .</li>
</ul>
<p>&quot;被规则套着&quot; = &quot;be restricted by rule&quot;</p>
<blockquote>
<p>绝对没有一个规则[套]在这里</p>
<p>There is absolutely no rule/principle [<strong>is set</strong>] here</p>
</blockquote>
<p>He mentioned &quot;it is like war, we can only make a decision after considering many different elements&quot; suggested he meant &quot;there's no set rules&quot;</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T10:16:15.360Z
2017-09-04T10:21:41.917Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Tang Ho
<p>I agree with @dan's explanation on the meaning of 套, ie apply a rule mechanically without thinking, but I don't agree with his translation in the end.</p>

<p>I think the translation should be</p>

<p>There is no universal rule to be applied here and we can't apply any rule without thinking.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T11:16:48.107Z
2017-09-04T11:16:48.107Z
jf328
<p>套 means apply something blindly.</p>

<p>A: 我不会打排球.</p>

<p>B: 那你就把打篮球的方法套在这里.</p>

<p>when it is used as adjective, it means something that could be used blindly.</p>

<p>A: blablabla</p>

<p>B: 别跟我说这些套话. </p>

<p>It is usually negative.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T14:17:03.703Z
2017-09-04T14:17:03.703Z
sfy
<p>This is 俞敏洪 speaking:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>这个问题两说，我建议想清楚了一件事情以后再去做，只要想清楚了，你就要不断往前， 只要资源允许，时间，能力没问题，你都要坚持去做。 这就和战争一样总是要看到当时当地的情况才能下决定，绝对没有一个规则套在这里，大家以后就不用去思考。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>绝对没有一个规则[套]在这里<br>
(there is) absolutely no rule/principle [hidden] in this,<br>
(there is) absolutely no rule/principle [one can follow] here,<br>
(there is) absolutely no rule/principle [applicable] here, </p>

<p>I know of：
套用规则：apply a rule
自动套用：auto format</p>

<p>What does this 套 mean here?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T10:19:13.237Z
bkrs:〈动〉to cover
to encase, to sheathe 
(1) 罩在外面 [cover with; slip on]
下边穿着条香色洋布夹裤, 套着双青缎子套裤。 --《儿女英雄传》
(2) 如: 套袖(套在衣袖外保护衣服)
(3) 把棉花、 丝棉等平整地装入被褥或袄里缝好 [fit over]。 如: 套棉被; 套棉袄; 套进去; 套件衣服
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T10:57:58.500Z
cf. jukuu: 63. Where pipelines cross swamps, rivers, or lakes they may be encased in concrete. 油管跨越沼泽地，河流、湖泊时，可以用混凝土管匣套起来。64. A hangman's noose had already been placed around his neck. 一个绞刑的绳圈已经套在他的脖子上。
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T13:38:20.667Z
regarding answers: are there (more) examples online of abbreviating 套 to 套用 in a phrase of type NP套在NP里? Some users more or less agree with OP's choice #1, which agrees with the common meaning of verb 套 (cover, encase, sheathe), also note jukuu's 100 samples for 套在，many with 套在 NP 上。 regarding 套在 里， note
把谈话套在学术性探讨的框子里 (套在框子里frame in)
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-06T01:29:29.290Z
套 means that limit an object or an animal  with a container, to avoid leaving or losing control. so 套用规则 means apply a rule or a standard to make sure things go right.
Daniel Yang
<meaning>
What does 套 mean in ...绝对没有一个规则套在这里...?
# What does 套 mean in ...绝对没有一个规则套在这里...?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-09-04)

This is 俞敏洪 speaking:

> 这个问题两说，我建议想清楚了一件事情以后再去做，只要想清楚了，你就要不断往前， 只要资源允许，时间，能力没问题，你都要坚持去做。 这就和战争一样总是要看到当时当地的情况才能下决定，绝对没有一个规则套在这里，大家以后就不用去思考。

绝对没有一个规则[套]在这里  
(there is) absolutely no rule/principle [hidden] in this,  
(there is) absolutely no rule/principle [one can follow] here,  
(there is) absolutely no rule/principle [applicable] here,

I know of：
套用规则：apply a rule
自动套用：auto format

What does this 套 mean here?

**Tags:** meaning

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: bkrs:〈动〉to cover to encase, to sheathe  (1) 罩在外面 [cover with; slip on] 下边穿着条香色洋布夹裤, 套着双青缎子套裤。 --《儿女英雄传》 (2) 如: 套袖(套在衣袖外保护衣服) (3) 把棉花、 丝棉等平整地装入被褥或袄里缝好 [fit over]。 如: 套棉被; 套棉袄; 套进去; 套件衣服  
> **username_1**: cf. jukuu: 63. Where pipelines cross swamps, rivers, or lakes they may be encased in concrete. 油管跨越沼泽地，河流、湖泊时，可以用混凝土管匣套起来。64. A hangman's noose had already been placed around his neck. 一个绞刑的绳圈已经套在他的脖子上。  
> **username_1**: regarding answers: are there (more) examples online of abbreviating 套 to 套用 in a phrase of type NP套在NP里? Some users more or less agree with OP's choice #1, which agrees with the common meaning of verb 套 (cover, encase, sheathe), also note jukuu's 100 samples for 套在，many with 套在 NP 上。 regarding 套在 里， note 把谈话套在学术性探讨的框子里 (套在框子里frame in)  
> **username_2**: 套 means that limit an object or an animal  with a container, to avoid leaving or losing control. so 套用规则 means apply a rule or a standard to make sure things go right.  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-09-04. Score: 4

My understanding is that 套 is short for 套用 here, meaning "apply mechanically".

Basically, the author conveys there isn't such a rule/principle that could work for all the circumstances, so that we don't have to worry once applying it.

With that in mind, I gather you should be able to wording it much better than I do as an English native.

This is my shot:
(there is) absolutely no rule/principle fixing(or being applied) here, so we don't have to worry about it any more.

On top of that, if the sentence is written as 绝对没有一个规则**被套用**在这里, would it be more understandable to you? In fact, it's a passive voice sentence with some omissions.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-09-04. Score: 2

In this context, '套' means "restrict" or "set"

* 规则(rule) is a form of **restriction**
* 规则(rules) are being **set** by people .

"被规则套着" = "be restricted by rule"

> 绝对没有一个规则[套]在这里
>
> There is absolutely no rule/principle [**is set**] here

He mentioned "it is like war, we can only make a decision after considering many different elements" suggested he meant "there's no set rules"


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2017-09-04. Score: 1

I agree with @username_3's explanation on the meaning of 套, ie apply a rule mechanically without thinking, but I don't agree with his translation in the end.

I think the translation should be

There is no universal rule to be applied here and we can't apply any rule without thinking.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2017-09-04. Score: 1

套 means apply something blindly.

A: 我不会打排球.

B: 那你就把打篮球的方法套在这里.

when it is used as adjective, it means something that could be used blindly.

A: blablabla

B: 别跟我说这些套话.

It is usually negative.


---

