"Making a Three-Point Covenant" originally referred to Liu Bang's agreement with the people upon entering the Guanzhong region, in which he established three simple laws: those who kill shall die, those who injure others or steal shall be punished accordingly, and all other harsh laws of the Qin Dynasty shall be abolished. Later, it came to mean establishing concise and essential terms or rules for everyone to follow. This idiom emphasizes that rules should be simple, clear, and easy to enforce. It is often used in political, managerial, and cooperative contexts and carries a positive connotation, reflecting a spirit of pragmatism, efficiency, and winning the trust of the people. In terms of cultural background, it reflects the ancient Chinese governing philosophy of "simplifying administration and easing punishments," as well as the political wisdom of "winning the trust of the people." In modern contexts, it can be used to describe the formulation of basic guidelines among teams, organizations, or nations, and is also commonly used for everyday agreements such as family rules or project regulations, emphasizing that terms should be few but refined and avoid unnecessary complexity. Emotionally, it conveys a positive attitude of candor, trustworthiness, and efficiency.
📝 Example
1. After the new team was formed, everyone agreed on three simple rules: no lateness, no shirking responsibility, and no talking behind others' backs, so as to ensure smooth cooperation.
2. The leaders of the two countries met and agreed on three basic principles regarding the border issue, consenting to resolve disputes through peaceful dialogue.