That's a hard rule. That's a rough rule. 真是一个很难的规则。真是一个很粗糙的规则。
This is a hard rule to follow. 这个规则看来很难遵守。
No hard rule dictates how long a line of code should be. 没有硬性规定一个代码行应该多长。
It is better to have a soft rule that is roughly right than a hard rule that makes no economic sense. 但一个基本正确的软性准则总比一个没有经济意义的硬性规定来的强。
That whole thing about priests not being allowed to repeat what they hear in confessions, is that a hard rule, or just a general guideline? 关于牧师不允许重复他们在忏悔里所听到的话,是一条强硬的规则还是只是个一般性的指导方针?